Ivan Wayne Curley, a well-known businessman, artist, and dearly loved husband, father, and grandfather died on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at age 91. Ivan was born in Oberlin, Kansas, on January 1, 1931, to Vince and Vada (Agan) Curley. He graduated from Bent County High School in 1949 and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Art at Adams State University. In 1955 he was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Phyllis Wright Curley, two sons Devin (Dolores) of Phenix City, Alabama, and Ryan (Silvia) of Monte Vista, Colorado, and one daughter Allison (Kenny) Stephenson of Monte Vista, Colorado, two granddaughters Carissa and Samantha Curley of Phenix City, Alabama, two brothers Dale (Shirley) Curley of McClave, Colorado, and Irvin (Mary Sue) Curley of Sanford, Texas, as well as precious nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gary Curley, of Alamosa, Colorado.
Ivan taught public school in Boulder, Colorado, Bailey, Colorado, and Phenix City, Alabama, for a span of 17 years. Concurrently, he started his sign business as a summertime occupation almost 70 years ago in 1953, and he named it I. Curley Signs & Designs.
Upon moving back to Colorado in 1973, he turned this part-time summer business into a full-time business, and it is still in operation with the help of his sons and daughter. At the same time, he pursued his first love which was helping people learn what God's Word, the Bible, teaches about the hope of a wonderful future in the paradise on earth that God purposed in the beginning in the Garden of Eden.
Ivan is known for his wonderful paintings which have won many awards over the last 60 years. Primarily they feature landscapes of the beautiful Colorado mountains, although there are other paintings influenced by his many trips to, and love of, Italy.
Ivan was a kind, gentle person who was known to be fair in his business dealings, and generous to a fault. There are no words to describe how he will be missed.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 27, at 1:30 p.m. It will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 28 Trosper Drive, one mile west of Monte Vista on Highway 160, and simultaneously by Zoom Video Conferencing. For any wishing to attend by Zoom, please call 719-852-3298 for Login and Passcode.