THOMAS (TOM) LEE CURRY, JR.

was born in Baptist Hospital in Little Rock on October 28, 1930. He was the only child and beloved son of Lellar and Thomas L Curry, Sr. Tom grew up here in Little Rock and graduated from LRHS in 1948, Little Rock Junior College in 1950, and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in Marketing in 1952. He served in the Army Regimental Headquarters at Fort Chaffee 1952-1954.

In 1957 Tom began his over 65year career in Insurance here in Little Rock as an ordinary agent with Prudential Insurance Company. He was soon promoted Division Manager in Fort Smith, Arkansas, opening a scratch agency in Northwest Arkansas. By 1960 his agencies were producing more than the three other Division Managers in Little Rock combined.

In 1961 Tom was recruited by Paul Revere Insurance Company into their Management Training Program for General Manager followed by once again starting a scratch agency in Fort Smith. Very quickly he developed more men and production than the Little Rock office and in 1963 was promoted to General Manager of Arkansas. He was in charge of all recruiting, selection, training, supervision, sales activities, and office management for the company. Under Tom’s guidance he not only helped to train but encouraged many agents as a mentor who made the Insurance business their life-long career.

Tom completed regular CLU in 1958, CLU in Agency in 1961, Registered Health Underwriter 1980, and Chartered Financial Counselor in 1983. Having taken and taught every Field and Sales Training Course that his companies offered, he was a true professional in his chosen career. Quite often he would say “I had something to sell and not I had to sell something”. He always believed that the companies and products that he represented were beneficial for his clients.

Among his many national awards, he won the trophy for Best Recruiting and Retention job in the nation, as well as a trophy for Regional Production, and was regularly ranked for the President’s Trophy—-only 8 to 10 agencies would be ranked for President’s Trophy’s yearly.

After 20 years of being General Manager Tom went back into personal production in 1983. He retired from Paul Revere Insurance Company in 1991 with over 2,500 policy holders in his file. He has remained basically an Independent Producer for Paul Revere as well as other leading companies of Life, Health, and Disability. In Tom’s personal testimony he wrote “My prayers were answered as to my career path. I believe I was definitely led into the Insurance Business. Now some 60 years later, l can look back and say it has been a very good career for me. It was hard to get started and many times doubts would arise, but when I reviewed how God led me, and why I came into the business, it would renew my resolve. I would always come back confident that I made the right choice.”

Tom accepted Christ as his Savior when he was 13 years old. He rededicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ in January of 1990. He has been a member of First Christian Church in Little Rock over 60 years, serving as a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, and Elder. In 1995 he and his wife, Ethel, served as volunteers with the Campus Crusade for Christ Executive Ministry in Harare, Zimbabwe. In 1997 they returned as volunteers to live in Pretoria, South Africa as the Family Life Ministry was being introduced there. Tom attended Community Bible Study, the Disciples Bible Study series and Bible Studies held in his home and church. He loved his new Inspire Bible and read it all the way through in 2019.

Tom was a Real Estate Broker for Earl Smith Realty in Jacksonville which he inherited in 1989. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, Shriner, proud alumnus of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and the Philatelic Society who regularly used him to evaluate Stamp collections for estates. He had an extensive Stamp Collection which he began as a boy and which became a life-long hobby. He was connected to stamp collectors all over the world, and through his collecting he became very knowledgeable about geography and history worldwide. He learned the story behind each stamp of each country.

Tom and his wife, Ethel, whom he lovingly called “Pretty Lady”, traveled extensively over these last 30 years to 6 continents, all the provinces of Canada, and all 50 states. All he had to hear was “would you like to go? — and his immediate response was ‘let’s go” and they went.

Tom was a gentle, quiet man with integrity that people respected and trusted. He loved his God, his family, his friends, his work, and his church. To all he was dedicated. Also, Tom had a quick wit, and humorous comebacks were always given with his big smile. Tom never, except to experiment a few times, drank alcohol, coffee, nor smoked his whole 89 years of life.

Tom is predeceased by his parents and his wife of 34 years, Julianne Smith Curry. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Ethel Belle Griffin Roberts-Curry; sons, Shannon (Shannon Leigh), Dan (Susan); step-sons, Wayland “Rusty” Roberts (Diane), Larry Roberts (Jeannie); grandson, Thomas Roberts (Valarie), granddaughter, Rhiannon Parker (Matt). He became Papa Tom to Diane’s children: Adam, Shaw, Heather (Adam), Erik (Julie), as well as Heather and Adam’s children Michael and Dalilah.

Our family wants to recognize and give a very special thanks to an extraordinary group of people who have helped Tom through these last few years. Home Helpers Care Givers: Tracy Renee’ Gosnay and Charlene Bryels; and in these final months all the staff at Hospice Home Care. They were so wonderful to take care of and love our beloved Tom. We are eternally grateful to each of you.

Services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, April 10, 2020 on the portico outside of Roller-Chenal Funeral Home led by Rev. David Grandgeorge. Music will be presented by Rev. Jim Munns. Private Burial will follow the service at Roselawn Cemetery. If not able to attend outside services at Roller Chenal Funeral Home, please sign the online guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.