Curtis Willey

Curtis A. Willey, veteran volunteer firefighter and community leader, died peacefully surrounded by his large family on April 24, 2016. He was 58 years old. Born in Jamestown, N.D., on May 22, 1957, Curtis was a standout leader, serving as president of the Granger Chamber of Commerce, board member of Faith Lutheran Church, member of the Granger Historical Society, and 26-year volunteer with Yakima Valley Fire District 5. He was named Chamber Member of the Year in 2011 and 2016 and Granger Volunteer of the Year in 2007. Curtis graduated from Granger High School in 1975, attended the Culinary Arts Program at Perry Technical School and worked at Yakima Bait Co. He was the second of seven children born to Mavis and Lloyd Willey. Younger brother Leon recalls a relationship with Curtis that grew from a typical sibling rivalry – “he used to beat us up, the way brothers do” – to one of mutual respect built around running. “I run today because it was just what you did back then,” Leon said. “Forty years later, I still use some of the tricks he taught me. One of my fondest memories is finishing a race with him at the Granger track one summer when I was about 12, and having him drape his sweaty arm across my shoulders.” Despite numerous challenges that left Curtis a double amputee, he never let his health issues stop him or allowed others to pity him. He reveled in his siblings’ jokes at his expense, even wearing a sweatshirt proudly proclaiming him “Uncle Stumpy.” His firefighter buddies suggested he get one prosthetic leg made longer than the other so he could stand straight while fighting brush fires on hillsides. And, occasionally, he would turn one of his legs backwards to shock visitors unaware of his prosthetics. A quiet leader, Curtis served as a guiding force for his only child, Christine Fahsholtz. “He was my best friend and my hero. He always pushed me to do anything that I wanted. He was a great listener, great support system and always gave me the best advice,” she said. Curtis was preceded in death by his mother, Mavis. He is survived by his daughter Christine (Kyle), grandchildren Marci and KC, father Lloyd, sisters Barbara Burns (Don), Connie Ripley (Steve), LuAnn Miland (Stephen), brothers Jon, Leon (Heidi), and Wendall (Lisa), plus a large extended family. A memorial service will be held at noon on May 7 at Faith Lutheran Church, 61800 US-97, Toppenish. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to The National Kidney Foundation or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Curtis Willey, please visit our flower store.