Curtis Arnold Gose

Curtis Arnold Gose was born Wednesday, December 12, 1951, in Watonga, Oklahoma to Warren and Evelyn McPherson Gose, and passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the age of 71.

A lifelong member of the Watonga community, Curt farmed the land from his youth through his retirement, in addition to working as a heavy equipment/grader operator for Blaine County from 1982 to 2013. At Watonga High School, farming and football was Curt’s life. In 1967, his freshman year, Curt won the title of Oklahoma State Wheat King, for producing 105 bushels of Kaw wheat on five acres as a member of Watonga FFA. On the gridiron, Curt was an Oklahoma All-State football player, and was voted as the “Fightingest Eagle,” later being inducted into the Watonga Football Hall of Fame. After graduating high school, Curt attended Wichita State University, where he played college football as a member of the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame Shockers football team of 1970. Curt loved football throughout his life, especially the Oklahoma Sooners. He was an avid reader, with a passion for history and World War II. In 2019, he traveled to Europe with his family, and was excited to take in the historic sights. The underground Allied command tunnels on Malta, where Eisenhower planned the invasion of Sicily, and the streets of Messina, where Patton completed “The Race to Messina” and the Allied conquest of Sicily (famous from the movie “Patton”), were two favorites. At home, he was an animal lover, spending many nights at home on the couch with pet chihuahuas Taz and Lady.

Curt was a member of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Watonga, where he married Celia Spahn on Saturday, April 11, 1981. Curt was a trustee for the church, and a member of the board for the Watonga Football Hall of Fame.

Curt is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife Celia, of their home in Watonga.

One daughter………………Kelsey Gose and Vincent St. John of Dallas, Texas

One sister……………………Gail Kautz and husband Kenny of Yukon, OK

Two brothers in law…….Darrell Rice of Watonga, OK

……………………………………Wade and wife Debbie Rice of Watonga, OK

6 Nieces and Nephews… Tonya Hesser, Kendra Cope, Katie Kautz, Fred Rice, Amanda Vermillion, Heather Rice.

As well as numerous friends and relatives.

Funeral services for Curtis Gose will be held Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Watonga, with Pastor Orval Peters officiating. Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Watonga, with Wilkinson Mortuary of Watonga in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging at the University of Oklahoma.