Don Currie, a friend to many in Great Race. If you have been around the Great Race at all you probably remember Great Race Staffer, Don Currie. Don was the guy who always had a smile for you when we arrived into the next Great Race town, then asked politely how your day was in his gentlemanly Southern Texas style accent. Don was in charge of Great Race technical inspections for many years, and was one of my first requests of Rally Master John Classen to ask to come back to help out with the new Great Race. Don and Kelly both enthusiastically said that they would be here in Chattanooga and be a part of our new team. It feels good to put many of the old friends back together for this wonderful event. It is with great sadness however that I received a call that Don passed away on Monday. As some of you know, Don also was very involved in helping with the Pate Swap Meet held at the Texas International Speedway. It seems he might have had a serious health issue some time Monday which may have caused a single auto accident and, well….Don got to finish his day Monday sitting at the feet of Jesus.
I called Sister McRae who immediately drove up from Granbury to see Kelly in Fort Worth. Sister said, ” Kelly is doing fine and has a smile on her face as always. Her son Jim is here from LA and will be here through the weekend. We are so saddened by the passing of this wonderful friend, but he is at rest now —- with a brand new body and no pain. No doubt he and Tom are planning a heavenly Great Race!”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Currie family. Services will be at 10AM this Saturday May 14th at Laurel Land Funeral Home, 7100 Crowley Rd., Ft. Worth, TX 76134, 817-293-1350
Respectfully,
Corky
What a shock! Just this afternoon we were talking about how we were looking forward to seeing Don and Kelly at the GR. We remember Don coming out to our car, clipboard in hand, with a warm smile and twinkle in his eye. I will never forget his smile as I would try to get the horn on my Thunderbird to work (it has a sweet spot where it honks). Don would stand patiently until I found the spot and then say, “Horn works”. Our love and prayers go out to Kelly and the family. Don, you were a true gentleman who will be greatly missed!
He will be missed by more than we can count, by the pate swap meet workers Our well wishes go with you
Corky – I read your kind words two years after the fact…and have to smile. Dad sincerely loved GR and the many teams that make up the GR family. It was a special chapter of his life and he thrilled to male the race each summer. This year, as with last, my mother Kelly will join you. She is very pleased and honored to participate on the GR staff. In fact, she very happy with the race pathway this year that passes through her new adopted hometown of Covington, LA. Our whole family will join you on that day. Thanks, Jim, et al.