Dorothy Sanders Curtis

Dorothy S. Curtis, affectionately known as ""Dot"", of Lakewood, CO., formerly of Raleigh, NC, died Sunday morning, April 19, 2009, after a lengthy illness. She was born February 18, 1926 to Wiley Sanders and Eva G. Sanders. Dorothy was a graduate of Washington High School and Shaw University, both in Raleigh, NC. She furthered her education at Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, MI and North Carolina Central University, in Durham, NC, where she earned her Masters degree. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Dorothy was joined in marriage to William Curtis. Their union was blessed with one son, Ronald E. Curtis. Dorothy began her career as a Home Economics teacher at John W. Ligon Jr.Sr. High School. She was later a science teacher, both at Ligon and Carnage Middle School, in Raleigh, NC., and Garner Jr.Sr. High School in Garner, NC. In the late 1960's, Dorothy's career path led her to Boulder, CO, when she was one of five Raleigh high school teachers selected to participate in the Earth Sciences Curriculum Project at the Earth Sciences Institute, in Boulder, CO. In 1975, her work on the project, in part, helped her to earn a position with the U.S. Geological Survey's Central Region. While there, she received many commendations and awards. She was most proud of being honored for her work in spearheading minority participation in their Earth Sciences Program, while serving as Equal Opportunity Representative. Dorothy also worked for the Mineral Management Service of the Dept of Interior. She retired from the U.S. Geological Survey in 1992. Dorothy had a beautiful, contagious smile, and a zest for life, which she lived to the fullest. There was no challenge to big for her to try and conquer. She was an active member of Mile Hi Church, Lakewood , CO. She loved traveling the world and socializing with her many friends. Dorothy was preceded in death by her sisters, Sophia Clay, of Raleigh, NC; Elsie Harrison, of Raleigh, NC and her brothers, Marvin Sanders of Washington, DC, and Raeford Sanders of Fayetteville, NC. She is survived by her son, Ronald E. Curtis, of Mason, OH, her grandson, Troy B. Curtis of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; and a host of other relatives and friends. The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of you for your acts of love and kindness during her extended period of illness and your expressions of sympathy for our loss. Please click on ""sign guestbook"" to leave messages of sympathy for Dorothy's family.