James Curtis Roberts was by definition high-speed, low drag. He lived a vibrant life full of double fist pumps and high fives. Hurricane James was a force of nature. He knew who he was—a loyal husband, father, brother, son, and friend. Curtis knew what he liked—Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates, 80's music, Ruby River on Friday night, his best friend Ray's house for his famous wings, Diet Coke, hunting, and a meal (not a snack!) of meat, potatoes, bread, and milk. He absolutely loved being alive. He lived in awe of the beauty of the world and felt gratitude for being in it. Days before he passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the age of 51, he jotted down this note, "I love the world better than what I thought it was going to be, thanks to you. I would have it no other way! You're the best!"

He was born to dedicated parents James and Mary Roberts in Titusville, Pennsylvania on December 8, 1972, joining his older sister Wendy in their family home. Curt was proud of his roots and loved his close-knit family and the community he grew up in. He was a little pistol as a child and gave his parents a run for their money, but they loved nothing more than riding through the backroads together spotting animals or taking trips into town. This began his lifelong love, as an outdoorsman, of hunting big and small game. He overcame many health challenges as a child and developed incredible resilience.

Growing up with little means, Curtis learned the value of hard work and perseverance from his parents early in his life. His father taught him to be a man of his word as he worked alongside him as a plumber and his mother taught him respect and love.

Curtis loved playing baseball as a teenager and ran around town in his blue, hot-rod Ford truck with a big Chevy engine, wearing Wranglers with his hair in a mullet, aka his mud flaps. He briefly attended Penn State studying mechanical engineering, before changing direction.

With just $50 in his pocket, his grit, and three backpacks stuffed with all his belongings (one of which was stolen as he passed through Chicago) Curtis headed west to Utah. He immediately set to work and picked up job applications from every business down each side of the street from his apartment in Provo, Utah. The first job offer he received was from Mike Carson at Supersonic Car Wash and he accepted a position there. This pivotal decision set in motion much of the future course of his life, by launching his career, creating life-long friendships, and setting the scene to meet his beautiful wife, Alissa, where he teased her that he was her favorite manager every time he saw her. They fell in love and were married in Orem, Utah on September 25, 1998.

Curtis's talent and hustle paid off, and he was promoted to manage the site. Through continued hard work and dedication, he managed the company as it grew. His drive and motivation allowed him to achieve several world records within the car wash industry, eventually acting as the Chief Operating Officer and overseeing twelve car wash locations. Later, he also successfully founded Velocity Car Wash. He loved what he did, the people he worked with, and he lived his life in relentless pursuit of excellence.

Any achievement in Curtis's life mattered far less to him than his relationships and his reputation. From the time his kids could begin to understand him, he stressed the importance of their actions, teaching them that their reputation would always precede them. Curtis was always there for the people in his life in the way it mattered most. It was a gift. He loved God, his freedom, his country, and his family. He was fiercely protective of them and proud of who they had become. He gave compliments freely and corrections when called for. You always knew where you stood with Curtis. He was independent, intuitive, and invincible.

Curtis had an enthusiasm and passion for life that made every day for him, like being in the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese's. He pursued fun and high-octane adventures and wanted to try it all—rock climbing, bungee jumping off bridges, rodeo, dirt biking, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, hunting, hiking, and enjoying his mountain property. He certainly never sat still long enough to collect dust, and for him, one thing was never enough. Always the first one on the scene, Curtis became an EMT and volunteer firefighter, even saving someone from a burning house while on vacation once, and he trained for swift water and Hasty team search and rescue.

A voracious reader, Curtis had a self-proclaimed "plethora of worthless knowledge" that allowed him to easily converse with everyone he met. He especially loved reading about history, politics, military life, leadership, current events, and Western culture. He was an incredible storyteller, and he knew something about just about everything. Curtis was a mentor and a teacher. Among a million other things, he taught his son, Weston, how to run heavy equipment as a child, and his daughter, Lexi, how to change the oil in her truck. He was never too busy for his kids.

Curtis is survived by his wife Alissa, who he adored, along with his amazing, kick-butt kids, Weston, and Alexis. Curtis is also survived by his parents James and Mary Roberts, his sister Wendy (Tim) Wescoat, his Uncle Mike (Lori) Lingo and family, and by many loved cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by an enormous number of close friends, which can't all be named for fear of missing someone. He was preceded in death by his sister Jody Lynn, his Grandma Ina and Grandpa Floyd Curtis "Ike" Lingo, his Granddad Samuel E Roberts Sr., and his Grandma Elaine "Betty" Jackson.

He lived by these words from Theodore Roosevelt, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Curtis radiated light and joy and his greatest desire was to uplift people. So many of us orbited around that light. He wanted to serve others and make a difference for as many people as possible--and he did. He also believed that we all had a responsibility to add to that light for others, so in his words, "Let's hit it!"

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you find someone to lift and do something unexpectedly nice for them. Contributions to Weston and Lexi's continuing education would also be gratefully received at Weston-Alexis Education-Fund (@Alissa-Roberts-28) on Venmo.

Services will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024, with a viewing held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 610 West 100 South, Lindon, Utah from 9:30 to 10:30 am. The funeral service will be held from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Immediately following the funeral, a graveside service and interment will be held at the Orem City Cemetery at 1520 North 800 East.