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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Curryer, Harold Byrd

Age 92

CURRYER, Harold Byrd (Age 92) Passed away at his home on December 20, 2012 after a long and very interesting life.

He was born to Edna Dora and William Byrd Curryer on February 19th, 1920.

His early years were spent on Orchard Prairie, attending the one room school and helping on the farm.

He loved to build things and fix things.

But mostly, he loved to tear things apart to see how they worked.

He graduated from Rogers High School in 1939 where he was active in track, drama and music.

He joined the Army Air Force pre Pearl Harbor in 1941, having been recruited by his Chaplin uncle to sing in the Chapel Choir.

There he met, and later married, Kathleen Madsen, a talented singer in her own right.

During WWII he was stationed at Nome, AK as a Cryptographer and Teletype Operator.

Then, during the Korean War, he was a Radio Repairman in the Navy giving him eight years of service to his country.

He and Kathleen had two children, Clyde and Roxanne.

Tragically, his wife and son were killed in a car accident in July of 1952.

In 1954 he married Edna Dorothy Clevett (Mills) and she would be his wife and helpmate for 57 years.

He adopted Edna’s daughter, Kathy and they then had two more sons, Alan and Stephen.

His whole working life was spent repairing or building or inventing various types of electronics including radio, TV and electric organs.

His greatest work was as a builder and tuner of pipe organs, including the one he installed in his own home.

He and Edna traveled all over the west for many years servicing churches, big and small.

He loved hunting, fishing, traveling with Edna, gardening and most of all, music.

He whistled everywhere he went and had a song for any occasion.

His last great adventure was to go on the Honor Flight from Spokane to Washington, DC on November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

We, his family and friends, loved his quick mind and wit, his unfailing curiosity and his overall enthusiasm for life.

He taught us all many things and he will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his wife Edna and his sisters Evelyn Thayer and Flora Davis.

He is survived by his children Roxanne (Neal) Powell, Kathryn (Tom) Cockrell, Alan (Melissa) Curryer, and Stephen (Kathryn) Curryer, nine grandchildren, six great- grandchildren, three nieces and one nephew.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 29th at 10:00AM at Hazen and Jaeger Valley, 1306 N. Pines Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99206.

Interment will follow with military honors at Orchard Prairie Cemetery.