Mary Lou Bravo (Curtis)
July 17, 1946 – October 23, 2023

Mary Lou Bravo (Curtis) changed her address to Heaven on Oct. 23 in Fortuna with her dear family by her side.

Mary Lou was born on July 17, 1946 to Ted and Phyllis Curtis. She was the second of eight children. She was God’s gift to her family in humor, fun and caregiving. She lit up every room with her carefree, sparkling personality and humor. Everyone knew the seriousness was gone and the fun had begun! Mary was loved by everyone and she will be deeply missed.

She attended two different one-room country schools near Karnak, N.D. In junior high, she attended Hannaford School and then the family made a move to Valley City, N.D., where she graduated from high school in 1964. She had so many friends and often made it back there for their reunions. After graduation, she attended Valley City State College, majoring in Elementary Education.

She moved to California with her sister Erleen, with an invitation from their cousin, Jan Willson. Her parents came out six months later and bought the elderly resident care facility, Haven of Rest, in Fortuna. They had always wanted to move to California, where they remained the rest of their lives. Mary Lou and her sister, Bonnie, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she worked as a nurse’s aide at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley. She later moved back to Eureka, where she went to work for her parents as the greatest nurse to the elderly they had ever had.

Mary Lou married Lanny Bravo in April of 1979. They went on to have two wonderful sons, Lance and Chad. She was an amazing mother and caregiver, but she always managed to find time in her busy schedule to meet up with her friends for a round of golf, a competitive game of pool, or a fun night at the bowling alley. Mary was also one of the Golden State Warriors’ biggest fans. She would always try to catch every game on TV and even got to make it to one game in person to see her all-time favorites, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Mary is survived by her two sons, Lance (Laurie) and Chad (Alyssa), beautiful grandchildren, Tyler, Mariah, Elijah, Noah and a baby on the way. Mary Lou is also survived by seven brothers and sisters, Erleen Staley (Warren); Bonnie Mabon (Lon); Joel Curtis, (Rachel), Ginny Thompson (Tom); Rachel Graybill (Dan); Esther Curtis; John Curtis (Lorraine) and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary is predeceased by her parents, Ted & Phyllis Curtis, grandparents and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.

A gathering to share memories and stories will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 1 p.m., at the Fortuna River Lodge, 1800 Riverwalk Dr, Fortuna, CA 95540.

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