Charles Richard Currie

Following a struggle with brain cancer, Charles departed this life on January 23, 2025 at age 73. 

He is survived by two brothers, Jim Currie (Laura) and Bill Currie (Darlene), six nephews and nieces, sister-in-law, Debbie Johnson, and his late wife’s two step-children, Lance Power and Laurel McLaughlin.

Charles was the second of three boys born to James R. Currie and Helen P. Currie in New Orleans. The family moved to the family home in Pass Christian in 1960. Educated at St. Stanislaus and Perkinston Jr. College, Charles obtained an engineering degree with honors from Mississippi State University in 1975.

His first job out of school was with Chevron in New Orleans. One of his most enjoyable assignments was a project in Spain where he lived in Madrid for a year and a half. Led by a desire to do more design work and less construction management, Charles shifted to a New Orleans based consulting engineering firm, Project Associates. He spent the longer part of his career working through them, designing offshore projects for the major oil companies.

Charles married the love of his life, Joyce Lynn Johnson, in 1993. They commuted to New Orleans for work together for many years, Joyce to her job as a VA head OR nurse, Charles to his engineering assignments. They built a lovely home of Charles’ design on their farm in Dubuisson Community in Pass Christian, where they kept cattle. Sadly, Joyce was lost to cancer in 2011 after eighteen years of marriage.

Charles was an active supporter of the Cursillo Movement of South Mississippi for many years. After his retirement in 2014, Charles continued his service to his parish of Most Holy Trinity in the Knights of Columbus, kept up his membership in Pass Christian Yacht Club, maintained his property and worked on his old cars. Charles kept his friends for life and particularly enjoyed St. Stanislaus class reunions.

Before the onset of Parkinson’s Disease in later years, Charles lived an active lifestyle full of adventure. Taking up sky diving soon after taking his first job at Chevron, he logged a total of 972 jumps! He, with crew, sailed his 26 foot sailboat to Belize and back. His first “house” in his bachelor days was a large car barn with an apartment above that he built with his own hands. He was the type of person who would choose to repair an item over buying a new one. He exemplified hard work, honesty, and the value of a man’s word.

Charles was a special person to all who knew him and will be sorely missed.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Kiln, MS on Thursday, January 30 at 11:00 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Knights of Columbus the Most Holy Trinity Council 11995 or to the Humane Society of South Mississippi. 

Interment will be at Lake Lawn Cemetery in New Orleans at a later date.

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, Pass Christian, is serving the family.