Curtis Leon Winney, age 85, resident of Forks, Washington passed away January 27, 2023 at Via Christi Village in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
Curtis was born on November 22, 1937 to Horace R. Winney and Nellie I. (Mitchell) Winney in Dalhart, Texas.
His youth years were spent in Dalhart. In the early 40’s his family moved to the State of Washington making their home on Bainbridge Island in 1946. While at Bainbridge High School Curtis played football each of his 4 years and graduated in 1956. On January 9, 1960 he married his classmate Judy Robinson.
As an employer, Curtis wore many hats. While on Bainbridge, Curtis and crew hand dug water wells throughout Kitsap County and partnered with Don Westerlund in Westerlund – Winney Logging Co. until 1960. In 1965, he and his well digging crew came to Forks with dump trucks for a three month logging/road job and never left. The family moved to Forks in early 1966. In 1971 he incorporated with his brothers to form Winney Construction Co. and later started a Logging Co. Then came cedar shake mills and a cedar lumber mill. His final career was as a farmer raising grains and registered angus cattle in Oklahoma.
Curtis is survived by his wife, Judy, of sixty-three years and their children, Karen Richards, Kim (Ken) Bechtold and Kathryn (Pete) McKnight, four Grandchildren, Ryan (Stephanie) and Chad (Erica) Bechtold, Haley and David Love; six Great-Grandchildren, Wyatt, Levi, Henry, Nolan and Kenzie Bechtold, and Violet Wilkie. Brothers Joe (Cheryl) Winney, H. Ray (Pam) Winney, sister Patsinell (Pete) Skartdvedt and brother- in -law Jerry Reitan. Nephews, Thomas (AKA Tucker), David and Jon Westerlund, J. Scott and Michael Winney. Nieces, Lisa Baker, Kristen Grant, Janice Lichtenwaldt, and Laurie Ames.
Preceded in death were his parents, older brother Sid Ray Winney, sister- in- law Sharon Reitan and son- in- law Lane Richards.
An open house celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rain Forest Art Center Forks, WA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in honor of Curtis to the Forks Timber Museum/Forks Loggers Memorial.
