Washington man dies in Florida preparing for Hurricane Ian

KALAMA, Wash. (KPTV) – As Florida continues to get better from Hurricane Ian, the demise toll continues to rise. Over 100 individuals have misplaced their lives together with 72-year-old Terry Curtin, from Kalama, Washington.

“He lived on a farm, the place his mother needed to stand up each morning and milk the goats to feed him as a result of he was allergic to dairy,” mentioned his daughter Rachael Curtin Bartlett.

Bartlett says her father was at all times smiling and whistling, liked music, and by no means knew a stranger.

“In the midst of all of this what I realized about my dad that each individual that I’ve met goes ‘He was my greatest good friend. He was my greatest good friend’,” mentioned Bartlett. “That’s who my dad was. My dad was such the music buff. I realized a lot. He was such a Grateful Useless fan. I used to be the luckiest child as a result of I received to go to the 1972 Grateful Useless with my dad and my mother. 1974 Kansas Linda Ronstadt. Each present they ever went to they took me.”

Bartlett says her dad determined to retire to Florida, however he quickly began working at Disney World as a greeter on the Animal Kingdom.

“That’s simply who he was,” mentioned Bartlett. “All people liked him. He was a greeter there for like 8 years. He at all times advised me about going to smile faculty. I knew it wasn’t laborious for him.”

Bartlett says her dad was ensuring his gutter might face up to the storm forward of the hurricane when he fell off his ladder and his hit head.

“He went up that day to verify his gutter was tight,” mentioned Bartlett. “He fell off the ladder and introduced the gutter off his home. There was no different harm. Nothing. He hit the concrete. I received a telephone name saying my dad had fallen, he hit his head, they usually weren’t positive if he was going to make it or not. I received the primary flight into Florida.”

Bartlett says she stayed together with her father within the hospital, speaking to him and enjoying his favourite music till he handed.

“I reached out to all of his associates and mentioned ship me playlists,” mentioned Bartlett. “I talked to him and requested him to please blink his eyes for me. There was nothing. I’ve one peace in all of this and it’s my father is now with my brother in heaven.”

She says the one message for these considering of using out a hurricane is to not do it.

“He’s at peace, however for god’s sake for those who turn out to be a retiree and transfer and the hurricane warning comes, come dwelling,” mentioned Bartlett. “Come dwelling and be along with your youngsters. Your stuff doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter, none of it. As a result of he wasn’t purported to be gone.”

Bartlett says she spoke to him on Monday, two days earlier than the incident.

“I used to be on the Jack Johnson live performance at Edgefield,” mentioned Bartlett. “I FaceTimed him. I received to share it with him. That’s what we did with him down in Florida. It was all about music for us. He handed that on to me. He handed that on to my daughters. I received to share so many reveals with him. For me, that Monday night time was the perfect. He liked it a lot. “

Bartlett plans on holding a vigil at McMenanins Kalama Harbor Lodge within the subsequent few weeks to honor her father.

Copyright 2022 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.