Sammy Leon Curry passed away peacefully in his home, with loved ones by his side on December 12, 2022. He fought a battle with his lungs for many years and just could not fight anymore. His body was tired, but his spirit never weakened. Sammy was born to Johnnie Lester Curry and Verta Llene Roberts Curry in Brownwood on October 22, 1948. He came into this world the same way he left it, in a blaze of glory.
Sam was a character like one you’d never met before and would not soon forget. He loved running restaurants. He had a hand in running Chicken on the Run, Mean Bull, Sunday Fried Chicken, Hamburger Heaven, Sam’s Island, Pappy’s Fish & Steak, Thrifty’s Snack Shack and numerous other little adventures. If you ever tasted his fish and onion rings, you wanted more. In his later years of life, he began having estate sales and selling stuff to the public. He helped the Lappe Brothers with their storage units until he could no longer help. Sammy loved to play drums in his younger years. Later in life, he picked up the harmonica, ukulele, the kazoo, and loved to annoy the heck out of us all with his little silly medleys.
In 1970 Sam had met and married Evelyn Perry. Together they had 3 children. Twins, Travis and Tonya Curry and years later, Tammy Curry. They suffered a great loss together when their daughter Tonya passed away at 10 months. They parted ways in 1982 and he went on to marry the woman who would become the love of his life.
Sam married the love of his life, Sheila Frizzell, from 1982-1990. They went down separate paths and married different people. Both their spouses passed away in 2015 and months later they started courting each other again. They fell in love all over again and realized they wanted to spend their remaining days with each other. They said their vows, till death do we part, in March of 2019. Sheila was by his side the day he died, and he knew he was loved.
Left behind to honor his memories are his loving wife Sheila Frizzell Slaughter Curry, his sons Timothy Wright (Amy) of Tuscola and Travis Curry of Brownwood, his daughter, Tammy Curry, also of Brownwood. His brother Johnny Curry of Bangs and his sister Odessa Moore (Vernon) of Thrifty. His grandchildren, Zachry Wright (Whitney) and Macy Wright of Tuscola, Holden Curry (Makayla), Marshall Curry (Caylee), Tony Cummings (Miranda) all of Brownwood and Scott Johnson (Jennifer) of Lampasas. Step-granddaughter Emily Perry of Brownwood. His sister-in-law’s Shannon Wooldridge (Dan) of Georgetown, Donna Hatchett (Bo) of Zephyr, Lana Norris, and Cynthia Johnson (Tim) of Bangs. Special friends he loved as family, Sean Bailey and Michele Fuqua. 12 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, daughters Tonya Curry and Karen Wright, sister Lenda Wash, brother Darvin Curry and stepson Kevin “Kilroy” Perry and great-granddaughter McKinley Cummings.
Cremation is under the direction of Brownwood Funeral Home. A memorial will be held at the Early Visitors & Events Center in Early, Texas at 419 Garmon Drive on December 29, 2022 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm with interment to follow at Eastlawn Memorial. Friends and family are invited to attend. The family would like to thank Hospice Nurse Cynthia Burleson with Alpha Omega for keeping Sam as comfortable as possible in his last days.
