CURT MUSE

Wasilla and Cooper Landing resident Curtis Muse, also known as Curt Trout, 54, died peacefully Oct. 23, 2005, while motoring across Skilak Lake after another great day of fishing on the Kenai River.

A celebration of life and potluck was held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Palmer Depot in Palmer. Pastor Doug Boyd will officiate.

Mr. Muse was born April 18, 1951, in Porterville, Calif., to Curtis and Betty Muse. He graduated from Reedsport High School in Reedsport, Ore., in 1969 before moving to Vancouver, Wash.

Mr. Muse married Jody (Wakeman) Muse in 1982, and in 1983 they moved to Wasilla. Mr. Muse worked for 22 years as a journeyman electrician all over the West Coast and Alaska, where he worked in many villages and remote areas. He served in the Washington State Army National Guard and was honorably discharged.

His loved ones wrote, &#8220Curt always had a love of fly fishing, which grew throughout the years. In 1983 he decided to follow his dream and helped start Alaska Troutfitters in Cooper Landing, Alaska.

&#8220Curt became a master guide and found his calling teaching others the joy of fly fishing and respect for the river. Over the years as his health declined, he developed many unusual fly-fishing techniques that kept him fishing right up to the end.

&#8220He taught these techniques to everyone he met, from thousands of clients, fellow guides, and diehard fly fishermen from all over the world. Curt's soft-spoken manner and true love of fishing was apparent to all who met him, but he especially enjoyed teaching young children, the elderly or disabled clients.

&#8220Over the years as the business grew, Curt and his partner, Cheryl Rice, shared their knowledge with many guides who helped teach Curt's techniques to many more clients, but four special guides became part of his extended family on the river. Billy Coulilette and Dusty Byrd have now taken over Alaska Troutfitters, while Josh Hayes still guides in the area and Cameron Muse is following in his father's footsteps and started guiding before he could even drive.

&#8220Curt was an active member of the Cooper Landing Fish and Game Advisory Committee, helping shape the future and preserve the ecosystem of the river and fishery he loved so future generations would have the chance to enjoy the sport of fly fishing as much as he did.

&#8220Curt was a legend on the river and earned the respect of all who knew him through the years. Curt's motto was, ‘You're never too old for fishing.'”

Mr. Muse was preceded in death by his father, Curtis Nolan Muse Sr.; mother, Betty Cox, and brother, Michael Muse.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Jody Muse of Wasilla; daughters and sons-in-law, Heidi and Rob Burkett of Lynden, Wash., and Megan and Russ Schutt of Blaine, Wash.; sons, Dustin Muse, stationed with the Army in Italy, and Cameron Muse of Wasilla; sister and brother-in-law, Luan and Tim Lalonde of Vancouver, Wash.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dan and Rachel Cox of Soldotna, David and Kelley Cox of Nikiski and John and Lisa Cox of Vancouver, Wash.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Roy and Beverly Wakeman of Ocean Park, Wash.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gary and Susan Wakeman of Las Vegas; sister in-law, Lori Comstock of Vancouver, Wash.; three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, along with a large extended family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.