John L. 'Jack' Curlee, 84

John L. "Jack" Curlee, LCDR, USN (Retired), 84, passed away on Aug. 14, 2014, in Post Falls, Idaho.

Jack was born on Jan. 2, 1930, in New Orleans, La., to Jewel Bradshaw Curlee and John H. Curlee. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 17th birthday and served 10 years in Aviation before his commission in 1957. Jack commanded the USS Chickasaw ATF-83 in 1964 as Lieutenant. He assumed command of the USS Snohomish County LST-1126 in 1965 for amphibious combat operations in South Vietnam, and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

In 1969 Jack married Lieutenant Commander Grace Miller, U.S. Navy Nurse Corps; that same year he retired from the Navy. Jack and Grace moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho, in 1974 and built a home. They then moved to Coeur d'Alene, and most recently to Post Falls.

Jack was preceded in death by a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, Grace Miller Curlee, of Post Falls; his children from his previous marriage to Mary, three daughters and one son - Helen Van Boxtel (Ron) of Encinitas, Calif., Kathryn Rosia (Neal) of Post Falls, Susan Adcox (Bob) of Rathdrum, and John L. Curlee, Jr. (Mary) of Post Falls; eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack's memory to a charity of your choice.

You may visit Jack's online memorial and sign his guestbook at yatesfuneralhomes.com.