Curtis F. McCollough

Curtis Foy McCollough of Sarver died of a worn out, but much used heart on September 13, 2019. He was the son of Theodore "Doc" McCollough and Martha "June" (Skiles) born January 13, 1931 in Clarion, and he was raised with his sister, Sheila (Beck), on the McCollough farm in Chicora. Curt told many tales of his youth including his first airplane ride in a Ford Tri-motor, throwing flaming balsawood airplanes out of the farmhouse windows, blowing up ant mounds with black powder, and detonating a home-made bomb to celebrate the end of WWII. He had a lifelong passion for deer hunting. Curt flew home-made kites and raced down his farm hills on barrel stave skis, Lightning Glider sleds, and home-made go carts. After the War, Curt graduated to a 1929 Model A pickup, and in 1953 he destroyed his grandmother’s rose trellis with the family’s Dodge club coupe. In 1948, he graduated from Karns City High School. He originated the idea and art for the "Gremlins" mascot that is used by all the sports teams to this day. Curt served in the Navy during the Korean War then enrolled at West Penn Tech and Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh. A talented artist, he became a draftsman, and retired after working for 34 years at Oberg Manufacturing Company where he designed precision carbide dies. In retirement, Curt researched his family history and wrote a book Descendants of Captain John McCollough and Elizabeth Spangler, Pioneers of Butler County.

He met Roseanne Byrnes at a high school basketball game. They married June 11, 1955. Curt and Roseanne instilled their love for the outdoors in their four children, Mark (Cathy) in Maine, Dianne (Andy) in State College, Steven in Montana, and Scott (Kelly) in Slate Lick. Curt was proud of his seven grandchildren Louis, Clay, Kelly, Aaron, Margaret, Jacob and Nikolas and two great-grandchildren Eloise and Amelia.

Curt was generous with his time, teaching the adult Sunday School class at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sarver for 50 years. He was the Scoutmaster for Troop 557 and led the Scouts on canoe trips down the Allegheny, the 1973 Jamboree at Moraine, and annual raft trips down Buffalo Creek. Curt’s childhood infatuation with black powder developed into a lifelong interest in Pennsylvania flintlock rifles. He was a skilled craftsman and built several flintlock rifles and pistols, carrying on a family tradition. Curt took his family on camping adventures to all corners of the country. He loved the Rocky Mountains most of all, and often quoted the Psalmist, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

The funeral and services will be private.

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