Ricky Dane Curtis, 71, was born Aug. 23, 1953 to Jerome Curtis and Natalie Baker and passed away Feb. 18, 2025. 
Rick served in the United States Navy for 20 years and retired in 1997. After retiring from the Navy, he worked in the IT department at EarthLink and later bought a barbershop in Whitney, where he worked for many years. 
He met the love of his life, Emma, while he was stationed in Millington, Tenn. They later married in 1981 and together raised four children. 
Rick’s hobbies included fishing; in addition, at one time he was a yoga instructor and ran a triathlon. He enjoyed spending time with family.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jeremy Curtis, sister Rhonda Peterson and brother-in-law Milton Peterson. 
He is survived by his wife, sons Jason Curtis and William Curtis, daughters Natalie Curtis and Christina Curtis, sister Kelly Wardell, nephew Richard Peterson, bonus mom Betty Curtis, grandkids Shyanne Thurman, Danielle Wilson, Troy Krueger, William Curtis and Parker Curtis and great-grandkids Logan Thurman, Levi Thurman and Kane Wilson. 
Pallbearers will be William Curtis, Jason Curtis, James Sharp, Troy Krueger, William Curtis and Parker Curtis. 
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2025 at Huckabee Tomlinson Funeral Home in Malakoff. A graveside service will be held at The Dallas- Fort Worth National Cemetery located at 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas.