Cecil Curley Obituary

View Cecil's Service Folder

Cecil J. Curley Jr., 73, of Eagle Butte, passed away Friday, October 10, 2025, at Monument Health Hospice House, Rapid City.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. MDT, Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Community Arena, Iron Lightning, SD, with a procession from the two-mile east of Dupree at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Luke's Episcopal Cemetery, Iron Lightning.

Cecil J. Curley Jr. was born March 21, 1952, to Cecil Curley Sr. and Amy (Iron Lightning) Curley in Iron Lightning, SD. He grew up and went to school in Eagle Butte. He received his GED on November 30, 1973, and shortly after, he enlisted in the US Marines Corps, and he was stationed at Camp Lejuenne, NC and Okinawa Japan.

Jr. spent most of his time in Iron Lightning and later moved to Eagle Butte, where he lived until his passing. He loved to be around family, especially his cousin brothers Kermit, Dana, Wakinyan Peta, Fred, Doug, Davey, Lyle, Jay, Cy, Casey, Tom Red Bird and Roland Elk Eagle. They were always telling stories from their childhood growing up in Iron Lightning even to the day he left for hospice. Jr. thought a lot of his family and was proud to be from the Wet Skirt and Wakinyan Maza Tiospaye's.

Jr. helped Uncle Paul High Elk break horses for Eugene Ryan in Thunder Butte. He helped with the horses, and LaVae and Jr. rode the green Broncs. The brothers also said he was a master sheep herder.

Jr. was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, he spent a great amount of time in treatment, he beat it but in 2024 it came back. The fight was on, but unfortunately in 2025 the cancer was everywhere, and he was only given six months. As much as he wanted to beat it again, his body wasn't strong enough.

When the family got word that Jr. only had a short amount of time, they all gathered by his side and spent as much time with him as possible. He was always so happy to have everyone around him. He told his niece Missy, "I wasn't with my family for many years, but not once did they ever turn their backs on me. When I was finally able to return home, I was greeted with a big homecoming, and it made me feel special because I lived alone for so long that I now knew I wasn't ever going to be alone again. One day I will be home with my mom, dad, brothers and sisters." Jr. always had visitors, but he always looked forward to baby Angel coming to see him every day.

Surviving Jr. are his son, Dain Curley (Jess Buffalo); grandson, Redik; granddaughter, Sydney; and great granddaughters, Atlas and Arlana; sisters: Amelia (Chris) and children: Missy, Cecile, Cante, WakinyanMaza and Yamni, E. Rose and children: Duane, Jacob, Jessie, Klair and Kyler, Melissa Curley and children: Andrew, Tori, Troy, Randi, Daniel and Calvin; brothers, Keith (Deloris) and children: Myrvina and Grace, Irving Curley and children: Lucas, Tahlon, Hadlee, Jessa and Jason; nieces and nephews: Francis Addison II, Ervin Addison, Jana Brown Wolf, Lonna Medican Crow, James and Mariah Curley, Arlana and Sara Curley, D'Shaun Eagle Chasing and grandchildren; special friend, Ina Rose Two Dogs-Curley; special children and grandchildren: Jay and Jolee Clark and Judson, Tru, and Angel, Keenan and Mila, Koren and Julio Lara and Jaleo, Kyle, Aaliyah, Harley, Irene, Envy, Avery and Bexley, Kirk Crow Jr. and Cherub Mexican and Martika, Lawrence, Justina, Alexandria, Everlee, Koree and August; Raphael's children: Nicholas, Nolan and Nevyn Two Dogs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Sr. and Amy Iron Lightning Curley; son, Jeremy Curley; sisters: Grace Agneaux, Joan Curley and Linda Addison; brothers: Arlen, Mervin Andrew "Big A", Myron, Kenny and Danny Curley; nieces and nephews: Terry and Jerry Curley, Grant Langley, Joe Brown Wolf, CJ Addison, Misun Curley, Courtney "KoKo" Curley, SherRon Langley, Tessa and Jean Curley, Jonnelle Curley; grandchildren: Lyndon Beau Agneaux, Ariel Cavanaugh, Kyle Curley, Koy Curley, Miles Avery, and Ahmyli Clark.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Cecil's arrangements.