HAVERHILL: Phyllis Carleton (Laing) Curtis, 88, widow of the late Lowell W. Curtis and daughter of the late George T. and Lois (Carleton) Laing of Bradford, died Thursday morning at the Merrimack Valley Hospital after a long confinement after breaking her hip. She lived for the past ten years at Phoenix Apartments, Phoenix Row in Haverhill.

She was born in the original Hale Hospital on Buttonwoods Avenue on February 6, 1918 and grew up on her father's family homestead at 39 South Pleasant Street in the Bradford District. She attended Cogswell and Greenleaf schools and Haverhill High School, graduating with the class of 1936. That summer she worked at the resort summer hotel Asquam House on Squam Lake in New Hampshire, where she met Lowell W. Curtis of Rockland, MA. They were married on March 13, 1937 in the old North Parish Church of Haverhill, MA and Plaistow, NH. Lowell had been working in the great hotels for many years in the south during the winter and in the north during the summer. She went with him to Pinehurst, NC, Michigan and finally New York City, where they stayed until 1942, when they returned to her family home in Bradford. There they raised their four children.

She was very active in both the school PTA's and cub scouting, Rainbow and DeMolay when her children were involved in those activities. When the youngest child was in middle school, she went to work at the Mitchell & Co. Department Store on Merrimack Street, working in the Boy's Department until the late 1960's, at which time she went to work in the Accounting Department of the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain, MA.

In 1971, she and her husband left Haverhill and returned to his family homestead at 163 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA, where they remained until after his death in 1977. In the later 1980's, she returned to Haverhill and stayed with her youngest son's family at the Whittier Homestead, where they were caretakers and curators. When they moved, Phyllis stayed on and for five years gave tours. In the mid-1990's, in her mid-70's, she completely retired and moved to the Phoenix House.

She was a Past Worthy Matron of the Fidelity Chapter #90, Order of the Eastern Star; and a member of the Haverhill Historical Society, Friends of the Haverhill Public Library, the Whittier Club of Haverhill, and the national Curtis's Family Society; also, a past member of the People's Methodist Church, Unitarian, of Norwell. She was an avid reader, aware of current events, and greatly enjoyed history and family history. She was a descendant of many of the early families who settled in Haverhill and Bradford. She also loved music, particularly New Orleans-style jazz, and travel, crossing the country alone by train many times, as well as making a few trips to Europe.

She is survived by her four children; Karen C. Kimball of Weymouth, MA; Lowell W. Curtis and his wife Barbara of Holden, MA, Lawrence L. Curtis and his wife Carol of Newfields, NH, and Howard W. Curtis of West Tisbury, MA. She also leaves eleven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren; and by her two brothers, Theodore H. Laing of Laconia, NH and Largo, FL; and Donald K. Laing of West Newbury, MA. She was predeceased by one grandson.

Relatives and friends are invited to the funeral Monday, 12:00 noon, at Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main Street, Haverhill. Private burial, next to her late husband, will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Rockland, MA. Calling hours will precede the funeral from 10-12 noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Whittier Homestead, 305 Whittier Road, Haverhill, MA 01830.