James "Jim" M. Curl

James Mowat Curl, a 72-year-old native of Oregon, passed away peacefully in his home on April 25th. Born in 1943 in North Bend, Jim moved to Bend at age five with his father Jim, mother Jean and younger brother Jerry. His sister Debby was born soon after, and the five of them settled down and became part of the Central Oregon community.

Jim began his schooling in Bend at Kenwood Elementary, walking to school and back every day down Awbrey Road. At that young age, he spent most of his time playing cowboys with his brother and his love of the old west would follow him throughout his life. In high school, Jim was all-conference in football and he graduated from Bend Senior High in 1962.

During that period of his life, summers were spent learning the family business. Bend Aggregate and Paving was started in 1948 by his father, and younger Jim was drawn to the equipment and the camaraderie with the men who worked there. Paving was in his blood. Weekends were spent boating and waterskiing. Family lore claims he was one of the first to slalom ski on Suttle Lake. 

After high school, Jim enrolled at the U of O and pledged the Theta Chi fraternity. Many friendships were formed with his fraternity brothers and he remained close to them throughout his life.  While in college, Jim met his future wife, Sheryl Baldridge who grew up in Portland. They both graduated in 1966. 

With the war overseas looming, Jim enlisted in the Navy and spent several months in Vietnam.  His construction background proving useful, he spent his time in the Sea Bees building roads and bridges. His heart of course was back home in Oregon, and upon his return he became engaged to Sherry. They were wed in 1968 in Portland and moved to Bend to begin their lives as a married couple.  Jim went back to work for his father, learning more about the paving industry.

Jim’s first son Jeffrey was born in 1970, and then Matthew in 1973. During the next several years, Jim’s weekdays were spent working hard to build the business of which he and his brother Jerry became owners and partners in. He enjoyed hard work and the relationships he built with his customers and those in the industry. He also took time to serve in the Rotary Club of Greater Bend, of which he held in high regard. His weekends were spent with Sherry and the boys, boating and fishing at Lake Billy Chinook (“The Lake”) and deep sea fishing at the coast in Newport. He was a deeply involved and dedicated family man, and his greatest delight was spending time with them. He never missed a sporting event, play, or recital if he could help it. Jim was a committed Christian and raised a Christian family that faithfully attended church. Jim’s faith in God and relationship with Jesus as his Lord and Savior was central to his life.

In 1998, Jim and Jerry sold the company and he retired at the young age of 55. He and Sherry were able to enjoy many years together boating and traveling, sight-seeing and spending quality time with their five grandchildren.

Jim also enjoyed deer and elk hunting and some of his fondest memories were spent with his father, brother, and sons hunting on the high desert near Hampton Butte. The camaraderie of the hunting camp, driving around in “Blue Kailu”, playing poker and enjoying a toddy were the reasons he hunted. He was a fine hunter and outdoorsman and was affectionately called “Bullshooter”.

Jim will be remembered as an honest, straight talking and extremely friendly person with a wonderful sense of humor who loved and lived life to the fullest. He loved wooden boats, non-fiction books, the desert, and enjoying a good steak. His hero was first and foremost Jesus Christ, and then in no particular order George Patton, John Wayne, and Ronald Reagan. His wife, children, grandchildren and siblings were his life and his many close friendships were evidence of his endearingly warm personality. He will be dearly missed.

Jim is survived by his wife Sherry, his sons Jeff and Matt and his five grandchildren: Lauren, Abigail, Gracie, Claire and Theo.

A memorial service will be held on May 20th at 1:00 PM at New Hope Church (20080 Pinebrook Blvd., Bend). At the request of the family, please direct any donations to either Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bend or the Trinity Lutheran School Fine Arts Program.

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