Leonard Curtis was born January 27, 1922 in Braggs, Oklahoma, to Louis Curtis and Lydia (Augerhole) Curtis. He passed away on May 13, 2023, in Norman, Oklahoma.

As a child, he attended Euchee Indian Boarding School and Chilocco Boarding School, then enrolled in Chandler High School.

In 1940, Leonard left high school to enlist in the Army for World War II alongside a group of 125 other Native Americans from Bacone Indian College. He served as a machine gun squad leader in I-Company, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division, the "Thunderbird Division." He fought in five major combat battles in Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Southern France, Rome-Arno, and Rhineland. In September 1943, he was captured and held captive for approximately 10 days before being released and rejoining his company. His military honors include a Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), Silver Star, European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal, European Theater of Operations (ETO) Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. In 2013, he participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., escorted by William Martin.

After receiving an honorable discharge in 1945, Leonard returned to Chandler High School to finish his senior year. He attended Tulsa Business College for four years, then began his first career as an accountant and office manager in the car leasing business. After 40 years in that industry, he began his second career and spent 23 years as a courier for the Oklahoma Blood Institute, where he transported blood to area hospitals. He retired from OBI in 2013.

Fishing was one of Leonard's favorite hobbies, and he loved spending sunup to sundown on the water regardless of the weather. He was incredibly proud of his Cherokee heritage and volunteered to share Cherokee stories and dance demonstrations at his children's and grandchildren's schools. He loved to play with his grandchildren and great grandchildren whenever he had the chance and would talk about fishing, football, and his faith with them. He always had a few jokes to tell and often carried a harmonica around in his pocket, because you never knew when a situation might need a little music. Despite living to the age of 101, he never considered himself old because he always felt young at heart. Leonard relied on his strong faith in God at every stage of his life and read his Bible daily for strength and understanding. He was a long-time member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Leonard is survived by daughters Cheryl (Craig) Bowlin and Vicki (Don) Russell, son Joe (Christa) Curtis, and grandchildren Jacci (Larry) Petersen, Jeramy (Shannon) Bollinger, Chuck (Amanda Curtin) Russell, David (Marie) Russell, Linda (Matthew) Wesley, Jennifer Gilcher, Emmelyne Curtis, and Sawyer Curtis.

He was proud of his 16 great-grandchildren (Mitchell, Kaley, Noah, Neal, Joshua, Jessica, Jacob, Benjamin, Lexi, Makenna, Caden, BrookLynn, Logan, Abigail, Jakob, and Jaxon) and his one great-great-grandchild, Sky.

He was preceded in death by eight siblings, daughter Dianna Gilcher, and great grandson Mitchell James.

Memorial donations can be made to Maranatha Baptist Church in Bethany at www.attendmbc.org/donate , or to the Norman Veterans Center Benefit Fund, which is used to support special outings or other individual needs of the veterans living at the center. To donate, send a check made payable to Norman Veterans Center – Benefit Fund with "In memory of Leonard Curtis" in the memo line to Norman Veterans Center, PO Box 1668, Norman, OK, 73070