Curtis Tull Thompson, born February 25, 1959, in Norman, Oklahoma, passed away on September 9, 2026, in Salado, Texas, leaving behind a life that was full of laughter, loyalty, sports, and unforgettable personality. He was the kind of man who could walk into a room quiet as a church mouse, then suddenly have everybody laughing, arguing, or listening to a lecture they did not know they needed. He lived his life in a way that was unmistakably Curtis, and that was exactly the point.

He was the son of the late Cora Thompson and the late Harold Thompson, and the brother of the late Jimmy James Thompson. He grew up with a strong family foundation and carried that sense of family with him throughout his life. Curtis was the kind of man who knew where he came from, even when he was busy acting like he had a better opinion than everybody else in the room. That confidence was part of his charm, and it was also part of the reason people never forgot him.

Curtis graduated from Salado High School and later attended Ranger Junior College, where baseball was part of the story. Sports were never just a hobby to him. They were practically a second language. He loved all sports, but if you wanted to see him come alive, just mention Sooners football and stand back. He could get quiet for long stretches, but once sports came up, the volume, the opinions, and the entertainment level all went up together. Curtis did not merely watch sports. He experienced them, critiqued them, and often coached them from the comfort of wherever he was sitting.

His work life included retirement from Wilson Art, where he spent years doing his part with the same steady presence that marked the rest of his life. Curtis was dependable in the ways that mattered, even if he sometimes made it clear that he had his own way of doing things. That was Curtis. He was opinionated, funny, and completely unpredictable in the most entertaining way possible. You never quite knew what he was going to do next, but you could usually count on it being worth remembering.

Curtis also gave his time and energy to coaching little league baseball and basketball for years, and he took that job seriously in the way only a man with a strong opinion and a good sense of humor can. He was the type of coach who probably taught more than just the game. He taught effort, toughness, and how to survive a lecture with your dignity intact. The children he coached surely learned the fundamentals, but they also learned that a coach named Curtis Thompson was not going to let them get away with much, and that was a gift in itself.

At the heart of Curtis’s life was his family. He is survived by his wife, Pam Thompson of Salado, Texas; his son, Derrick Thompson of Salado, Texas, and his daughter, Chelsi Thompson of Salado, Texas. He is also survived by his sister, Brenda Everett and her husband Ronnie Everett of Salado, Texas; his brother, Wayne Thompson of Las Vegas; his sister-in-law, Sandra Rourke and her husband Patrick Rourke of Belton, Texas; his brother-in-law, Joe Knight and his wife Debbie Knight of Belton, Texas; his brother-in-law, Gary Knight and his wife Vicki Knight of Belton, Texas; and his mother-in-law, Marjorie Knight of Belton, Texas. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Presli Jo Thompson, Paizli Marie Walker, Paxton Tull Walker, and Parker Renee Walker, along with numerous nieces and nephews who were blessed to know his humor and his unmistakable presence.

Curtis had a special love for his grandkids, and anything involving them was usually near the top of his list. He enjoyed being part of their lives, and he likely would have preferred grandkid time over just about anything else except maybe a Sooners game and a chance to talk sports. He was the kind of grandfather who could be funny, a little stubborn, and deeply devoted all at once. If he gave you advice, it probably came with a lecture, but it also came from love. That was one of his many talents.

He was a Christian, and his faith was part of the life he lived. Curtis had a way of making his opinions known, but he also had a heart that was tied to the people he loved and the values he carried. He was known for being funny, and that word fits him well. He had a personality that could brighten a moment, challenge a crowd, and leave behind a story that would be told again and again. He was usually quiet unless the conversation turned to sports, and then he became a commentator, analyst, and critic all rolled into one.

Curtis was also known for being called Yard Dog, a name that came from many years playing baseball/slow pitch softball and winning the home run derby’s. He loved his hair, and knowing Curtis, he made sure everybody else noticed it too. He was the kind of man who carried a brush. He could be funny, serious, silly, and full of commentary all in the same breath.

Though he has left this world, the stories, lessons, laughter, and quirks he left behind will remain. Curtis Tull Thompson lived a life that was anything but ordinary, and that is perhaps the finest tribute to a man who never seemed interested in ordinary anyway. His family and friends will remember his humor, his lectures, his love of sports, his devotion to his grandkids, and the way he could be quiet one minute and unforgettable the next. He will be missed deeply and remembered fondly, with laughter mixed into the tears, just the way he would have liked it.