Obituary published on Legacy.com by Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home - Louisville on Aug. 12, 2024.
Michael Harold Curley, Jr., aka The King, Mike, Sweet-Daddy-Do, Honey, Mr. C, and Mr. Lakeside, died peacefully on August 9, 2024, at the age of 87. Michael was born on May 22, 1937, in
Louisville, Kentucky to Ida Curley and Michael Harold Curley.
Michael was a devout Catholic and steadfast in his faith. He grew up attending Christ the King Church; helped build Epiphany Catholic Church in Middletown; and later belonged to St. Margaret Mary, All Saints Catholic Church, and St. Agnes.
Michael was educated at Flaget High School and the University of Louisville Speed School. In the glory days of his youth, he was an athlete and paid his own way through college, working at Kroger and on an ROTC scholarship.
Michael joined the United States Marine Corps and catapulted quickly into leadership positions. At 23 years old, he was chosen as part of a team to recover Freedom 7, the first U.S. human spaceflight. As part of that mission, Michael was sent to the U.S. Navy Aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain where he escorted Alan Shephard from the flight deck to debriefing.
While in the Marine Corps, Michael was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina where he met his wife, Jean Williams Curley, who taught on the base. In 1964, Michael and Jean moved to
Louisville, Kentucky, where they lived almost all their lives. Michael and Jean were married almost 49 years.
Michael was a mechanical engineer who retired from Ford Motor Company in 2000. He won the respect of many and very much appreciated the Company and the hard work.
After retirement, Michael and Jean moved to Topsail Beach, North Carolina. While living at the beach, he served on the City Counsel for many years, traveling to Washington, D.C., several times to discuss beach restoration. He loved calling BINGO. He also became recertified as a builder and helped people when their homes were damaged by severe weather – for fun and for free.
Michael moved back to Louisville in 2017 and lived in the Highlands where the neighbors are always kind. He enjoyed going to church, cutting the grass, and going to swim meets. He took his granddaughter, Lauren, to vote for the first time.
Michael was very involved in his children's lives. He helped run the swim meets for the Lakeside Seahawks for many years. In his later years, he was baffled as to why the swimmers were not being disqualified, especially in the breaststroke. If you were at any of the St. Xavier meets in 2017 or 2018 or the University of Louisville meets from 2018-2021, you heard all about this.
Michael adored each of his grandchildren. He had a magical way of holding them that calmed their restless spirits. He will forever be in their hearts.
And Michael loved his dogs "Pepper" – all ten of them. He liked the "damn cat."
Michael is survived by his three children, Martha Marie Eastman, Michael Harold Curley, III, (Jan) and Mary Curley Matyas (Dan). He also leaves seven grandchildren, Lauren Marie Eastman, Michael Richard Eastman, Michael "Harrison" Harold Curley, IV, Mitchell Curley, Hayden Curley, Stephen Matyas and Catherine Marie Matyas, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Michael was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Jean Curley, his father, Michael Curley, his mother, Ida Curley, and his sisters Jane, June and Nancy.
Visitation will be Wednesday, August 14th, from 3:00pm – 7:00pm, at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, including a service.
The Eastman/Curley/Matyas families would like to thank Lauren Eastman, Ms. Z, Sherry Scoggan, all the staff at Belmont Village and Baptist Hospital for sharing their love and taking such great care of their father. They would also like to thank Michael Eastman, Hayden Curley, Father Nelson, Cousin Steve and Darlene Thornberry, Brent Mannel, Bob Carpenter, Kim Haberle, Sofia Garzon and Abby Chambers for visiting Michael.
The King is dead. Long live the King.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Belmont Village Senior Living, 4600 Bowling Blvd.,
Louisville, KY 40207; and/or to Flaget Alumni Association, PO Box 36558,
Louisville, KY 40223-6558.