Curtis Raeugene Russell, known affectionately to all as Curtis, took his final curtain call on May 9, 2025. Born on July 13, 1980, in the vibrant city of Tulsa, Curtis was a man who lived life with the kind of zeal that would put a firework display to shame. He was the kind of guy who could find the humor in any situation, and it is with this same lighthearted spirit that we celebrate his journey today.

Curtis was the loving nucleus of a family that orbits around memories filled with laughter and joy. His better half, Andrea, was his partner in both love and mischief. Christian, his son, was the apple of his eye, and the one who inherited his dad's knack for turning everyday moments into episodes of pure comedy. His mother, Tina, and his siblings, Monte, Charlie, Brandon, Amanda, and Josh "Boo," were his co-stars in the sitcom that was their family life. Curtis was predeceased by his father, Monte Sr., and brother Randall, who no doubt welcomed him with open arms and probably a practical joke or two.

Curtis made his career among the treetops, as a tree climber and trimmer, where he often claimed the view was "unbeleafable." His colleagues knew him as the man who could lighten the load of any job with a well-timed joke or a story that left everyone hanging on for more—sometimes quite literally.

Our beloved Curtis was a man of many interests, but three in particular defined his free time: grandkids, pigs, and his garden. He often joked that the pigs were the cleanest of the trio, but everyone knew his heart was planted firmly with his family and the vegetables he coaxed from the Earth with his green thumbs. His love for woodworking was no secret either; he could often be found crafting a piece of furniture or, more likely, a clever new way to store his ever-growing collection of garden tools.

The words that best describe Curtis are loving, faith-filled, and spirited. He navigated life with a belief that a day without laughter was a day wasted. His spirit was as infectious as his laugh, which echoed through the hearts of those who knew him. Curtis was a man who could turn a pigsty into a palace and a simple garden into Eden.

In true Curtis fashion, let's not dwell on the silence left in his absence, but instead make a little noise in his honor. Let's celebrate the man who taught us that life is a garden—sometimes you just have to dig through a little manure to find the good stuff.

As we say goodbye to Curtis Raeugene Russell, let us remember him not with sadness but with the joy he would want us to feel. After all, as Curtis would say, "Life is a party, and I'm just glad I was invited." So here's to Curtis—may his stories keep us laughing and his memory continue to be a beacon of light, guiding us through the times when we can't quite see the forest for the trees.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home.  The family will be holding a Celebration of Russell's life at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the Russell Family Farm.