01/06/2026
Edward Curtis Tally, II
August 23, 1936-January 1, 2026
Curtis Tally was born to Edward Curtis Tally and Faye Shofner Tally on August 23, 1936, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was a lifelong resident of Justin, Texas, and a lifelong member of First Baptist Justin. His life was marked by many accomplishments, service to the Justin community and Denton County, and activities that are too numerous to list. He was loved and respected by thousands, and he touched countless lives with his love for people and his generous heart.
In his youth, he spent a summer in Austin as a Senate Page, even living alone in a boarding house during that time. He graduated from Northwest High School in 1954 and became a Red Raider fan for life, graduating in 1958 from Texas Tech University with a major in business and agronomy. Shortly thereafter, he married Oneta Reynolds in June of 1958. As if getting married and starting Justin Seed was not enough of a challenge for him in one year, he and Oneta welcomed their daughter, Karen Tally Slinker, in May of 1959. In 1964, they welcomed a son, Edward Curtis (Tracy) Tally, III.
Justin Seed Company was his brainchild. He opened the storefront in 1959, built it into a successful business, and passed the baton to his son, Tracy, upon his retirement in 1996. Tracy has continued to build the business, all the while seeking advice and wise counsel from Curtis.
Other notable accomplishments include teaching Sunday School for over fifty years at First Baptist Justin, serving on the bank board at Justin State Bank for fifty years (thirty of which he served as chairman), serving on the CoServ Electric Cooperative Board for twenty-two years (including a three-year term as chairman), and he delivered Meals on Wheels almost every Wednesday for thirty-five years, retiring only recently in November of 2025.
His interests and hobbies included serving his country in the National Guard from 1961-62, traveling the world, snow skiing in Colorado, music, plays, square dancing, flying single engine aircraft, working fields, working in his garden, and, most of all, spending time with his family and friends, always interested in their lives and work, responding with his quick wit and bone-dry humor.
His faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was paramount, and he lived it out in practical ways, including taking care of his employees first, making generous donations to First Baptist, Justin, Camp Copass in Denton, and many other local and global charitable organizations.
He is survived by his precious wife of 67 years, Oneta Reynolds Tally, his beautiful daughter, Karen Tally Slinker of San Jose, California, his faithful son, Tracy (Julie) Tally, of Flower Mound, Texas, his sister, Nancy Tally (Ted) Reynolds of Dallas, his brother, Richard (Jean) Tally, of Grand Junction, Colorado, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, multiple nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and five great-great nephews.
He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Visitation will be Friday, January 9, 2026, from 5:30-7PM. Memorial Service will be Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10AMโboth at First Baptist Justin.