Michael Desmond Currie

Michael Desmond Currie, 76, of Bend, OR died peacefully from natural causes in Sisters, Oregon on February 14th, 2025. He was with his wife Christine when he passed, helping to care for their cousin Robin who recently had hip surgery. Michael was born on October 27th, 1948 in Portland Oregon to his father Desmond and mother Margaret. He was the oldest of six kids: twins Mary Anne and Tom, Suzie, Phillip, and Jimmy. His parents moved the family to Bend in 1951 where he spent most of his life. The family lived near the Bend Golf course for a time where he showed an early talent for the game. Friends nicknamed him “Arthur” after famous dancer Arthur Murray because they shared a smooth and effortless swing. While he earned many gold accolades over the years, he may be most remembered as a five time winner of the local Mirror Pond golf tournament. Growing up in a large Irish Catholic family, Michael was close with many aunts, uncles and cousins who lived in Bend and Portland, Oregon. He was once voted class president at St. Francis Catholic School where he attended elementary and middle school. He loved to play sports, and you can still see his wiry basketball team photo hanging in the hallways at McMenamins St. Francis. He graduated from Bend High School in 1966 and attended the University of Oregon on a golf scholarship. He had many fond memories of living in Eugene during the late sixties and early seventies, getting into art, design and famously taking a mid-college sabbatical to live in Mexico for six months. Michael graduated from U of O with a degree in Architecture in 1976. After moving back to Bend, he spent time working for Ward Construction designing homes, eventually taking on a senior design role at Procraft and Heritage Creations where he worked until 2009. While he never pursued a professional golf career, his work designing interiors kept him well connected to the golfing world. He could easily rattle off stories of playing courses from Pebble Beach to Augusta. Among his close friends, he helped found the Young Men’s High Ideals Society, and he loved playing in their annual tournament in Kinzua, Oregon. In 1978, Michael met Christine Grout, and they married on September 24, 1983. They built their life together in Bend, moving from one tiny bungalow to what would become their lifelong family home in 1985. They had two sons, Aidan and Connor. Michael spent many years driving kids to soccer tournaments, guitar lessons, and helping build intricate models for science projects. The whole family loved spending time every summer at the Elk Lake family cabin. He was willing to do whatever it took to be there for his family, working hard and making sacrifices. He gave up drinking in 1993 to be closer to his family, and spent the rest of his life sober, giving back to others who struggle with addiction. Michael was a loving husband to Christine and father to his sons Aidan and Connor. He made a point to bring family along on his work trips across the US and abroad to Japan, Korea, Ireland and Portugal. His love of golf, architecture, art, food, music and history was evident in his travels. He would diligently earmark the tour guides and collect local recommendations for where to eat and catch a good show. He was extremely generous in sharing his curiosity and getting you to try something new, panning for gold, eating at an all-garlic restaurant, catching a Broadway show, casting off for a deep sea fishing trip, to name a few. Michael was a maker at heart. He said that as a boy, he was inspired to build by watching the Bend locals construct the arch over the Deschutes River for the annual 4th of July water pageant. He worked as a carpenter in college, designed homes afterward, and created luxurious interiors for some of the world’s finest golf courses, resorts, and spas. He famously helped Aidan build a wood canoe in the 4th grade using recycled redwood wine casks that is still in progress in the garage. One of his greatest gifts to the family was designing and renovating their forever home in Bend just as he and Christine wanted it. His attention to detail and love of Japanese joinery are still evident every time you walk through the archway he hand-built in the backyard. In his retirement years, Michael faced a number of health challenges: first he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009 and then required a heart valve replacement in 2012. Both required major lifestyle changes that Michael adapted to with his own particular style. He joined a local community of Parkinson’s patients who practice Tai Chi, Pilates and Dance. He quit smoking and took up walking and gardening instead. He even allowed doctors to implant wires in his brain (Deep Brain Stimulation) that magically reduced his tremors for the last few years of his life. Despite the difficulties Michael faced, he thrived on community. Whether it was his daily trips to the Loony Bean for Coffee, picking up fellow Parkinson's patients to go to dance class, or getting a friend to an AA meeting, he always showed up. As we grieve Michael’s passing, we’re eager to keep his spirit alive by sharing his stories. He loved to hold court with a joke, and knew just when to deliver the punchline. If you have stories to share, we would love to hear them. He is survived by his wife Christine, son Aidan and partner Shannon, son Connor; and brothers, Phillip, wife Pam, daughter Hannah; and Jimmy, ex-partner Kylie and children Emily and Desmond. Memorial services will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church (2450 NE 27th St, Bend, OR 97701) on April 12th at 11:30 am. For those unable to attend the service will be livestreamed at stfrancisbend.org and scroll down to livestream mass. A reception afterward will be at McMenamins St. Francis School 700 NW Bond Street (Father Luke’s Room) on April 12th from 1:30pm - 5pm.

Tributes

Michael Desmond Currie

October 27, 1948 - February 14, 2025