Curtis Wayne McQueary

Curtis McQueary died in Jefferson Hills, PA on May 8, 2024, from complications of Type I Diabetes. He was 57. Curtis was born in Gary, Indiana to Carol Raines McQueary and Willis Martin McQueary. In high school, he was a valued member of the football and wrestling teams.

After high school, Curtis enlisted in the Army. During his service, Curtis served as a radio operator and earned his Airborne wings by jumping out of several perfectly good airplanes. Curtis was planning to make the Army his career, but type 1 diabetes made that dream impossible and he was honorably discharged.

After the Army, Curtis became the first person in his family to graduate college when he earned his BA in English from The Ohio State University. He went a step further and earned his master’s degree in English Literature from Bowling Green State University. During his time as a graduate student, Curtis discovered a deep love of teaching. He began a second career teaching English and Communication classes at many southwest Pennsylvania colleges and universities including the University of Pittsburgh and the Community College of Allegheny County. Curtis enjoyed mentoring students and helping them discover their paths in life. He was particularly proud of his work with nontraditional students since he was one himself. An understanding, empathetic teacher, Curtis was passionate about helping students fulfill their potential and cite all their sources.

Curtis is survived by his wife, Meredith Guthrie, his three children Miles, John, and Ronan McQueary, and his mother Carol, who remains in Gary, IN. He was preceded in death by his father, Willis. 

Curtis was a great dad who parented with patience, understanding, and a never-ending supply of extremely goofy jokes. Curtis brought a loving sense of order to a house filled with three kids, three cats, a dog, a frog, lots of fish, and a wife he said was “made of chaos and rainbows.” We will miss getting a million texts a day from him filled with funny cat videos, silly memes, and the pants emoji alongside his frequent “I love yous.”

A Memorial Service for Curtis will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 2pm in the Community Room of the Jefferson Hills Borough Building 925 Old Clairton Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025.

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to The Headstrong Project, an organization that offers mental health treatment to veterans and service members. Donate at:  http://theheadstrongproject.org.