<Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Lorraine Page (1943 -?; div .) Barbara Ford (1952--1964; div .) Torrie Ahern Connelly (1966--1991; his death) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Children </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> Ken Curtis (July 2, 1916--April 28, 1991) was an American singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the long - running CBS western television series Gunsmoke . Although he appeared on Gunsmoke in other earlier roles, he was first cast in his iconic role in season 8 episode 13, "Us Haggens". His next appearance was with his mule, Ruth, in "Prairie Wolfer" in season 9 episode 16, which also featured Noah Beery Jr., as a villain . </P> <P> Though born Curtis Wain Gates in Lamar in Prowers County in southeastern Colorado, he lived his first ten years on a ranch on Muddy Creek in eastern Bent County . The family moved in 1926 to Las Animas, the county seat of Bent County, so that his father, Dan Sullivan Gates, could run for sheriff . The campaign was successful, and Gates served from 1927 to 1931 as Bent County sheriff . The family lived below the jail, since the jail was the whole second floor and his mother, Nellie Sneed Gates, cooked for the prisoners . The jail is located for historical preservation purposes on the grounds of the Bent County Courthouse in Las Animas . </P>

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