Mary Margaret Curtis was a woman who loved unconditionally and will always be unconditionally loved. With her children by her side, Mary joined our Heavenly Father as the sun rose at 8:00 a.m., Sunday, October 25th, 2015 at Sunnyview Nursing Home in Trenton, MO. at the age of 98.
Mary, the second of eight children, was born on October 10th, 1917 in Trenton, MO to Joseph Earl and Alpha (Holloway) Rowoth.  As a young woman, Mary was fortunate enough to be surrounded by the love of her seven amazing siblings, who helped shape her into the extraordinary woman she grew up to be.  On April 13th, 1941 she was united in marriage to Lloyd Franklin Curtis, who preceded her in death on June 8, 1997.  
Mary attended elementary school at Herbert School. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1935. After high school, Mary received her degree in Administrative Elementary in Education (1939), Bachelors of Science Elementary Education (1964) and Master’s of Elementary Administration (1975) from Truman State University. Mary taught 6th and 7th grades at Galt R-1, Mo (1965-1966), 5th grade at Grundy R-V at Humphreys, MO (1966-68), Elementary Principal at Grundy R-V at Humphreys, MO (1968-1975). She taught remedial reading at the S. M. Rissler Elementary School in Trenton until her retirement.

Mary was an active and faithful member of the Fairview Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years.  She was also a member of the Retired Teachers Association.
In 2000 she moved to Sunnyview Apartments and later to the Nursing Home where she resided until her death.
Mary loved reading to her grandchildren and sometimes insisted they lay down so she could rest her eyes.  She was one who could bake cookies without a recipe and sewed her children’s clothes and grandkids’ Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls with a Singer treadle sewing machine. Even after retirement, Mary never stopped teaching.  Friends and family learned many things: sewing, mending, gardening, genealogy, how to make things out of what grows in your yard, like hollyhock dolls and potpourri from the rose petals. One of the most important things she shared with all her family was her love for the Lord.
She saw a lot, lived through a lot and taught a lot... she worked hard but she always had time for her friends and family. She always made time to stop at the nursing home to visit and to help out the neighbors in the Fairview community.
Very few times in our life are you lucky enough to meet someone who does exactly as they were destined to do. Mary Margaret Curtis was, and is still today, a teacher. The way she lived her life taught many that a persons' stature places no limitations on the strength of their resolve or the size of their heart. Even though
she is no longer with us, she will be doing what she loves.
A teacher affects eternity; she can never tell where her influence stops. -Henry Adams
Mary redefined generosity with the selfless and humble way she anonymously gave of herself - always making sure that no one, needed anything. She made us all better people by becoming the woman God created her to be.
Those left to honor and cherish her love of life include her daughter Gracie Engelbrecht and her husband Earl of Jefferson City, MO, three sons, Joe Curtis and his wife Martha of Trenton, MO, David Curtis and his wife Jeanne of Kansas City, MO and Nevin Curtis and his wife Carmel of Galt, MO, a brother Paul Rowoth and his wife Joanne of Columbia, MO and a sister-in-law Nema Rowoth of Trenton, MO.  14 grandchildren; Crystal, Malana, John Curtis, Matt, Marcia, Jennifer, Jolissa, Megan, Brandon, Bethany, Brianne, Amanda, Nathaniel and Steven, 29 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, her parents Joe and Alpha Rowoth, three brothers, Alfred Rowoth, Olin Rowoth, Melvin Rowoth; and three sisters, Dorothy Rowoth, Thelma Rowoth and Inis Lynch.

Open visitation will begin Friday morning at Resthaven Mortuary.  A family visitation is scheduled from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday evening at the Resthaven.  Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 31, 2015 at Honey Creek Chapel Church northeast of Trenton. Memorial donations are suggested to the Honey Creek Chapel Cemetery.

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