Curtis Glenn Smith, Jr.

Curtis Glenn Smith Jr. of Morehead City died unexpectedly on October 30, 2011. He was born August 6, 1961 to Curtis and Nikki Smith in Daytona Beach, Florida where a childhood filled with water activities led to a lifelong love of surfing, boating and fishing. These activities were most enjoyed with family and friends at Cape Lookout and Ocracoke Island.
At the age of ten, he moved to Reidsville, North Carolina where he graduated from Reidsville High School in 1979. Always a “Florida Boy” at heart, Curt returned to Florida to attend Stetson University.
After two years at Stetson, Curt joined the U.S. Army and served a three year stint in Stuttgart, Germany as a dental technician. He used this opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. Acquaintances often became traveling companions and Curt loved sharing tales and memories of time spent in youth hostels and visits to locales “off the beaten path”.
Upon his return to the states, Curt pursued his dream of attending Florida State University from where he graduated with a B.S. in Psychology.
Following graduation, Curt moved to Carteret County, North Carolina where he began a lengthy career in mental health which began at Neuse Mental Health Center. During his ten years of service at Neuse Center, Curt earned a dual master’s Degree in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling. Soon after, Curt achieved the credentials of a Licensed Professional Counselor.
What began as a dream while he and his wife were dating became a reality when Curt accepted a position as a Substance Abuse Counselor on Larson Army Base in Kitzingen, Germany in 2001. Curt and Sallie, along with their three children, embraced this move as the opportunity of a lifetime, and indeed it was!
Upon their return to Morehead City in 1994. Curt started a private practice in which he was very committed to providing clients the most professional, yet personalized and compassionate care. Curt was the only counselor in Carteret County to hold the credentials of Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist.
Curt is survived by his beloved wife, Sallie Oettinger Smith; three children: twins; Stephen Copeland and Susan Gardner; and son, Gunnar Glenn. Also surviving are his parents, Curtis and Nikki Smith; sister, Kimberly Smith Stone of Reidsville; nephews and niece; Sean, Nicholas and Mallory. Curt is also survived by his parents-in-law, Leonard L. and Susan Oettinger, Jr. of Morehead City.
Curt will be greatly missed by his family, to whom he was deeply devoted and loyal, his former co-workers and many friends and clients, all of whose lives he touched with his unique personality and sense of humor.
The family and church will have a celebration of Curt’s life at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. with The Rev. Dr. John Pollock, Rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and The Reverend Douglas Smiley, Priest of St. Egbert’s Catholic Church officiating. St. Andrew’s Church is located at 2005 Arendell Street, Morehead City, N.C.  A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carteret County Domestic Violence Program, PO Box 2279, Morehead City, NC, 28557.
the Carteret County Humane Society, 853 Hibbs Road, Newport, 28570.

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