Curtis Gerald "Curt" Thorne

Curtis Gerald Thorne was called home after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease on May 29. He had recently retired as pastor of North Valley Assembly of God Church in Grants Pass, Oregon due to his failing health and had previously pastored in Miles City, Montana and Missoula, Montana.

Curtis was born in Pendleton, Oregon to Lewis E. Thorne and Naomi Chapman Thorne. He graduated from Pendleton High School in 1962, attended Linfield College, was a counselor for the Umatilla County Juvenile Court, served as a counselor in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and then accepted a youth pastor position in Springfield, Oregon that lead to his career as a pastor.

During his high school years, Curtis distinguished himself as an exceptional athlete and was honored as the most outstanding all-around athlete in the Pendleton High School’s graduating class of 1962. He was an All-Conference defensive end in football and his school record in the high hurdles stood for 37 years.

Who could have foreseen that this highly competitive athlete, who caused so much mayhem on and off the athletic field, would be transformed into someone that spent the greater portion of his life as a humble and compassionate pastor? His long and loving ministry touched thousands of lives in ways that will continue far beyond his passing.

Curtis’ life was not unmarred by tragedy. He lost his first wife, Dana Jones Thorne of Pendleton, Oregon, to a brain tumor after ten years of marriage. His second wife, Nancy Kailey Thorne of Miles City, died from complications from an automobile accident in 2004 during, his ministry at the North Valley Assembly of God Church in Grants Pass. In 2010 Curtis married Susie Delamore of Grants Pass who now survives him.

Curtis is also survived by brothers; Ronald Thorne (81) of Phoenix, AZ, Lewis C. Thorne (75) of Newberg, OR, Everett Thorne (73) of Rainier, OR and Robert Thorne (70) of Pendleton, OR., and by sons; Troy Thorne of Eagle Point, OR, Trenton Thorne of Grants Pass OR, by a daughter; Whitney Medina of Portland, OR; by four grandchildren; and by two stepchildren and two step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 2, 2014 at Parkway Christian Center in Grants Pass, Oregon with Pastor Russ Millsaps officiating.