Born July 31, 1929, daughter of George Daniel Ahern and "Pat" Huntsman Ahern Gillespie in Salt Lake City, UT and died November 2, 1997 at her home in Fresno, surrounded by family and friends.
It has been said that Torrie "never met a stranger", so quickly did she turn acquaintance into devoted friendship. To be her friend, even if only briefly, was to be blessed with her constancy, dedication, humor, generosity and faith in others. Helpmate to her beloved Ken "Festus" Curtis for almost 30 years and soul of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Community for 20 years before that, she will be remembered by uncounted legions as "Mrs. Festus" or simply as the one-and-only Torrie, their best friend.Torrie was preceded in death by her husbands, Lex Connelly and Ken Curtis. She is survived by her son, William of Salt Lake City, UT; daughter, Danny of Weatherford, TX; eight grandchildren; sisters, Doris Gillespie Hall of Salt Lake City, UT; Charlotte Ahern Jensen; Kris Ahern Livreri and Julie Frank, all of Las Vegas, NV.
Services will be graveside at Academy Cemetery, Mendocino Road off Tollhouse Road (Hwy. 168), northeast of Clovis on Thursday, November 6, 1997 at 10:30 a.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15, 1997 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Margaret's Chapel, Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School, 205 First Ave., Salt Lake City, UT.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent "in memory of Torrie Curtis" to Actors and Others for Animals, Attention Pitsa, 11523 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 or Hospice of St. Agnes, 1303 E. Herndon, Fresno, CA 93710.
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