In Memory

Joseph Curley

On January 15th, 2011, Joe went home to his place in Heaven. He lived every day of his 68 years with exuberant energy and liveliness. He would say that his happiest 44 years were with his loving and devoted wife Bobbie Curley. Together they were a team who always approached life as a joyful discovery.

They built a house the whole family would call home, they cultivated lovely friendships, traveled to their favorite places, grew grapes and produced award-winning wine. Along with his wife, Bobbie, he will also be watching from Heaven his much loved daughters Madelyn Curley Minehan and Mindy Curley Luby, sons-in-law, Mike Minehan and Davis Luby, grandchildren Kayla, Kylee and Kacy Minehan and AJ, Julia and Sierra Luby and mother-in-law Dee Sellards (all of Sonoma).

As a husband he served and adored his wife and gave her a life of supreme happiness. As a father and grandfather he taught and demonstrated love and compassion and guided all with his moral compass. As a genius craftsman and entrepreneur he built homes and buildings of amazing beauty. His true love was his family, and his passion was encouraging others to see their own ability in themselves. He left this earth with a legacy of love and speckled the landscape with beauty that flowed from his imagination, to his heart and through his hands.

Joe was born in San Francisco to Dorothy and Joseph T. Curley, attended St. Johns Grammar School and Marin Catholic High School and lived his teenage years in Marin County. He served in the US Air Force Reserves and also as a Deputy Sheriff for the Marin County Sheriff's Department. He worked as a residential and commercial building inspector for the cities of Petaluma, Vallejo and San Rafael and retired in 2005. In his retirement he enjoyed his family, friends, vineyards, winemaking and building. Joe leaves us knowing that we are loved to the fullest, and he has taught us that there isn't anything we can't do.

Our lasting memory is that he made it his duty to care, guide and provide for those he loves. He was a kind and generous man who will live forever in our hearts. All are welcome to celebrate his life at a memorial service Saturday, January 22 at 10:00 AM at Duggan's Mission Chapel in Sonoma.

(From the Marin Independent Journal)