Samuel Curtis Shortt

Samuel Curtis Shortt, 64, died Friday evening at Southeast Alabama Medical Center.

Curtis was born into a military family and spent the first few years of his life moving around before settling in Samson, AL at the age of 12. After high school, he attended West Point Military Academy where he spent his freshman year. He played football and basketball that year and was ultimately medically discharged from the Army following a basketball injury. He returned to Samson and married his high school sweetheart, Sandra. He spent a few years working in radio as a disc jockey called Curt Randall. He then went to electronics school and spent several years working as a copier technician. He finally decided to follow his heart's passion and went to nursing school while continuing to work full time. He graduated in fall of 1997 and became an RN. After working in several different settings, he found his niche working in critical care with heart patients where he was a tireless caregiver and a fierce advocate for his patients. He was named Southeast Alabama Medical Center's Hospital Hero in February of 2012.

Curtis was the oldest of 6 children. He grew up working on a farm picking cotton, hauling hay, or whatever else needed to be done. He learned the value of hard work and dedication and carried that throughout his life. He was athletic in his youth and played basketball. He would often beat his siblings and cousins playing H-O-R-S-E. He later spent several years as a high school football referee and a softball umpire. He was a good family man and was very involved with his children, sometimes even coaching their sports teams. He served as a Boy Scouts leader for his sons troop. He had a corny sense of humor and enjoyed people. Curtis was a Christian and lived his life as faithfully as he could. He would often focus his study on the second coming of Christ. He lived and died fully expecting to see this happen and would encourage others to do the same.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to FSH Society, 450 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA 02420 USA, 781-301-6060, fshsociety.org.

Curtis is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sandra; children, Sammi and Stephen; his mother, Sue Shortt; brother Allen and wife Wanda Shortt; sister Caryn and husband Bruce Hatcher; sister Jane and husband Rodney Kelley; brother Mike and wife Lori Shortt; sister Sharon and husband John Slay; and many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his father, James C Shortt.

Memorial services will be held Monday at 2 pm at Sunset Memorial Park with his brother, Rev. Mike Shortt, officiating. Following the service, friends and family will gather at Sunset for a time of celebration.