Jean Blazer Curtis

Jean Blazer Curtis of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away Sept. 17, 2014. She was born July 8, 1931, in Lewisburg, Ohio, to the late Mildred and Edwin "Nick" Carter. Mrs. Curtis is survived by her husband Wayne Curtis of Bella Vista, Ark., her children Steven Blazer (Tina) of Bella Vista, Ark., Douglas Blazer (Jane) of Middletown, Ohio, and Kimberly Woods (Barry) of Charleston, S.C., as well as her grandchildren Grace Blazer of Bella Vista, Ark., Joel Blazer (Arynn) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Lauren Roland (Stephen) and Brittany O'Shaughnessy (Michael) of Charleston, S.C., and great-granddaughters Ester and Evelynn Blazer of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a graduate of Middletown High School and The University of Dayton. Her career in public service began as a third-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Middletown, Ohio. Elected to four terms as Butler County Recorder, starting in 1968, she became District Service Director for U.S. Congressman Tom Kindness in 1981 and attained leadership positions in the Butler County and Ohio Republican Party. Mrs. Curtis later served in Washington, D.C., as Acting Director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau under Secretary Elizabeth Dole and as Executive Director of the White House Conference on Library and Information Services and Executive Director of the White House Council on Public Service during the Bush and Clinton administrations. Jean returned to Ohio in 1993 as Deputy Administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services for the Voinovich administration and retired to Bella Vista, Ark., in 1996, enjoying family, friends and travel for many years. Services and burial will be in Middletown, Ohio. Online condolences may be sent to www.breitenbachfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to The Alzheimer's Association, 644 Linn St., Suite 1026, Cincinnati, OH 45203.