Curtis Andrew Rathburn, 63, went home to meet his Lord Jesus on July 24, 2024. He died peacefully in his home in Missoula, Montana, after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.

Curtis was born July 3, 1961, in Athol, Massachusetts. He graduated from Athol High School in 1976 and Franklin County Tech in 1979, earning an associate's degree in electronics. He then joined the Navy, sailing the seas and traveling to Spain, Australia, and through the Persian Gulf, gathering experiences that he would later recount through humorous stories.

In 2004, Curtis moved Montana and made it his home for the rest of his days. He was passionate about his loves: baseball, music, and his family. (Not necessarily in that order.) He was an accomplished musician, playing several instruments, but he was extraordinarily good at playing guitar, both acoustic and electric. He began singing in church and developed a voice that was not easily forgotten by those who heard it. Curtis also had an encyclopedic mind for songs, remembering hundreds from a variety of genres. He played in various bands and musical configurations all his life and shared his musical knowledge with those around him.

Curtis is survived by his partner, Terise Llovet; parents Iantha Evelyn Boulanger and Orson Henry Rathburn Jr.; siblings Patti Ann Sylvester, Tim Adam Rathburn, Mark Allen Rathburn, Jim Aaron Rathburn, Barbara Alice Melanson and Wanda Aileen Priest; daughter Ashley O'Connor; nieces and nephews Jennifer, Chrissy, Emily, Mallory, Emilee, Billy, Luke, and Kristopher, and three great-nephews and six great-nieces.

A musical memorial will be held at the Union Club in Missoula, Montana, on August 25 at 5:00 p.m. It was Curtis's wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of supporting local musicians, such as attending a concert or buying an album.

Here's are some memories from his siblings :

Being the eldest of seven children was a position that he took very seriously. He was an enormous fan of his younger siblings and their children and he never missed an opportunity to brag on his kid sisters. His musical prowess inspired his younger brothers to learn the guitar and any family gathering would find the four of them jamming with the rest of the family singing, or at least, trying to sing. Curtis also loved to vacation with his family, creating amazing memories of cross country road trips, camping, backpacking, swimming and of course, music.

"He got stung saving me from a hornet, he also teased me with a cookie until I cried". Wanda

"A favorite childhood memory is when me, Curt, Mark and Jim went swimming at Tully Brook one summer day". Tim

"I also remember that he bought us our first color TV when he came home on leave from the Navy". Tim

"He was my biggest fan in my Martial arts days". Wanda

"Curt drove Wanda and I to a Howard Jones concert in a blizzard. It was a pretty excellent night!". Barbara

"He told me he was proud of me for paying for my own braces when I was a teenager. I was floored that he would remember or even knew that!". Barbara

"Curtis's gregarious nature and cunning musicality earned him friends wherever he went." Jim

"I use the word cunning because  one of Curt's favorite Bible verses:

1 Samuel 16:16 KJV

Let our Lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well." Jim

"We all piled into Curt's truck and made a beer run to New Hampshire. There was a car in front of us throwing fireworks out the window. " Patti

These are just a few of the memories shared by his siblings. His exploits were legendary. Many more include setting facial hair ablaze, doing flaming shots of Yukon Jack. Loudly insulting his mother's Catholic sensibilities by coming home from Australia with a tattoo. Showing off his "horticultural experiment" in his rented Massachusetts house, before it was legal. Renaming a difficult to pronounce State Park "Tokeonabona State Park". Because of Curtis, his siblings give this name to any State Park that they visit.

Curtis was a one of a kind man, and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.