LAWTON – City officials and area lawmakers paid tribute Wednesday to Lawton resident Barbara Curry, who died earlier that morning.
“Barbara was a brilliant, forward-thinking servant leader, and she will forever be a role model for future leaders in our community,” Rep. Daniel Pae, Rep. Trey Caldwell and Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, said in a joint statement. “She will be remembered for her remarkably positive personality, genuine compassion for helping others and her steadfast dedication toward advancing Lawton Fort Sill into the 21st century.”
Curry started the nonprofit organization WOMEN that VOTE! in 2018 to promote voter registration and encourage educated voting, according to a post on the Talk Lawton Facebook page. An offshoot of that organization, the nonprofit WOMEN that VOTE! Arts Corp., was established the following year.
WOMEN that VOTE Arts Corp. celebrates suffrage by commemorating the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote, according to the Facebook post. The organization links the suffrage movement to modern suffragists, who continue to advocate for equity and inclusion and honor women who are making a difference in Lawton.
“Barbara’s legacy will live on through her husband Leon; her two sons and grandchildren, but also in the lives that she influenced in the community,” said Nicole Bucher, author of the Facebook post. “She loved Lawton with all her heart. She wanted our community to be the best it could be.”
Lawton Mayor Stan Booker said officials mourned the loss of their friend, celebrated her life and comforted her family.
“Our hearts are saddened with the passing of our friend Barbara Curry,” Booker wrote. “Her dedication and love for the community could be seen in her smile and the joy she brought others. Barbara loved Lawton, and Lawton loved her.”
In addition to her advocacy work, Curry was a candidate for the Ward 4 seat on the Lawton City Council. She was competing against real estate developer George Gill and University Church of Christ Eric Sharum for the seat.
Gill finished first in Tuesday’s primary election with 344 votes, and Curry came in second with 220. Sharum finished third with 205 votes.
Neither Gill nor Curry won a simple majority of the vote, which is 50% plus one, on Tuesday. Under normal circumstances, both candidates would have advanced to the Nov. 8 general election.
But Curry’s passing complicated matters, and city officials said Wednesday that declaring a primary winner would be premature. Officials noted that election results must be certified by the Comanche County Election Board in consultation with the district attorney’s office.
Election board officials said Wednesday they were awaiting clarification from the DA’s office.