Rev. Clyde William Curnutte

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Rev. Clyde William Curnutte

September 2, 1933 ~ January 5, 2021

Father Clyde William Curnutte, a retired priest of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, passed away after a brief illness on January 5, 2021 while residing in a rehabilitation center for the past month or so near Dallas, Oregon, where he lived with his brother, Gary L. Cline.

Fr. Curnutte was born on September 2, 1933 to George W. Curnutte and Violet Staten in Portsmouth, Ohio. He attended elementary and high school in Dayton, Ohio (graduating in 1947 and 1951). He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 1952-1953, and then the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. from 1954-1955.

In 1975 Fr. Curnutte was residing in Eden, Utah and converted to Catholicism from the Episcopal Church.  He made his Profession of Faith at Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Abbey in Huntsville. His association with the Trappist monks had a significant influence on him.

Some years later, Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal accepted him as a seminarian for the Diocese of Salt Lake City and he began his studies for the priesthood at Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) from 1978 to 1982. He was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Rev. William K. Weigand on August 6, 1982 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

During his subsequent 13 years of priestly ministry in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, he served as an associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Madeleine (1982-1983), Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Price (1983-1984), Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, SLC (1984-1986), Saint Joseph Parish, Ogden (1986-1987), Saint James the Greater, Vernal (March 1987 to July 1987) and Saint Joseph the Worker, West Jordan (July 1987 to October 1987).

Fr. Curnutte served as pastor of San Andres Parish in Payson from October 1987 until August 1991, during which time he spent three months in Spain for the study of Spanish (October to December 1988). In February 1991, he became part-time chaplain at the University of Utah Medical Center (February 1991 to March 1995) and part-time religion teacher at Judge Memorial Catholic High School (February 1991 to June 1992).  In July 1992, he became part-time chaplain at the VA Hospital until March of 1995. On March 1, 1995, Fr. Curnutte was granted a medical retirement, given his cancer, and moved to the Oregon coast.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George W. Curnutte and Violet M. Staten. He is survived by his brother, Gary L. Cline; his sister-in-law, Diane R. Cline; and his niece, Rachel E. Cline.

Fr. Curnutte will be cremated and the Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated sometime in the spring when the family can drive from Oregon. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery next to his mother. Please remember Fr. Bill in your prayers.