Don Curry

Charles “Don” Curry, 91, passed away on November 4, 2026. Born July 9, 1935, on what was then the hottest July 9th on record, Don entered the world in a small community outside Gatesville, Texas, the son of O.C. and Mary Gladys Mayberry Curry. He was the fourth of five children—Frances Faye, Virgil Blaine, and Jonell (all preceding him in death), and his younger sister, Mary Ann.

Don had a determined, get-the-job-done spirit. In high school he competed in all sports: football, basketball, baseball, and track, sometimes serving as captain and earning All District and All Central Texas recognition many times. He was one of the starting five—as a sophomore—on the 1951 boys basketball championship team that placed 4th in the state. Among the achievements remembered with special admiration were two separate games in which Don scored 39 points each—accomplished in an era before three-point shots.

He also was class president during both his junior and senior years, and helped plan their senior trip to New Orleans. As a member of the Student Council, he received a commendation from the Superintendent and the Principal for "doing an splendid job".

Don earned a basketball scholarship to East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce (now Texas A&M University at Commerce) and made both the basketball and football teams. Yet, in an early example of the devotion and selflessness that would mark his life, he returned home at his family’s request to help meet family needs.

Don’s gifts extended beyond athletics. He was involved with the Future Homemakers of America, serving as an FHA State Representative in 1952 and an FHA Area Officer in 1953, and he was also a member of the Press Club. In 1952, while acting in the school’s one-act play “Fog in the Valley,” Don earned District First Place and District Best Actor awards—an early glimpse of the courage and presence he could bring to any endeavor.

Hard-working from his youth, Don held part-time jobs including milk bottle home deliveries and mowing lawns. His talent with floral arranging proved exceptional: Mr. Love, the local florist, not only asked him to help during high-demand seasons, but recognized his ability so clearly that he sent Don to florist and flower arranging school in Houston. Don later became manager of Mr. Love’s Killeen Florist shop. Fittingly, in Austin, Don became a member of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center—his appreciation for beauty matched by the care he took in creating it.

A devoted man of faith throughout his life, Don grew up attending the Gatesville Church of Christ. After moving to Austin, he became a longtime member of Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, and cherished their annual Christmas caroling at his home.

Don’s love of country was expressed through honorable service. He was a U.S. Army veteran, honorably discharged, serving in the 49th Armored Division of the U.S. Army National Guard—on active duty, as a reservist, and as a mobilized soldier during the Berlin crisis. His service reflected a brave and loyal commitment to something larger than himself.

You could often hear him saying: "I am an American and I am a Texan". And later he added:" I am an Austinite and I am a Longhorn".

In 1958, Don married a “bitter rival”—a McGregor girl—Gay Ellen Grady. Together, they shared a life marked by devotion, companionship, and the kind of enduring partnership.

Don was also an amazing artist, able to create with pencil and paper, watercolors, or oil paints. His talent was evident, but so was the generous spirit behind it—an ability not only to see what could be made, but to bring it to life with quiet excellence.

And though one might not expect a 6'3" man to move with ease, Don was self-taught and graceful: he could polka with the best of them, was a master of the Texas two-step, and could waltz across Texas.

Even though when firearm tested in the military and scoring above Expert, Don always missed hitting the animals and birds during the few times in his younger years that he went with a friend to go hunting. As an adult, Don never hunted. He always had a pet from his early Collie, Shep, to all the pets that came and went in his household. Even later, when he would sit in the carport, the neighborhood cats and dogs would come to visit, the cats checking throughout the day to see if he is there, and then sitting with him if he was. Any animal took to Don first and many a conversation could be heard over the birds.

Adding to his abilities, Don was a writer, having a special "way with words". It was amazing how he could take a subject and explain it so anyone could easily comprehend the issue. He had started writing his long-thought-out book entitled, "Life is..." which took each aspect of what life is or can be and discussed it and pointed out which aspects were more important.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Don pursued an engineering route to business and, while working full time, earned his BBA in Industrial Management and made the Dean’s List—an inspirational example of perseverance and discipline. He also completed additional education and training in the Dispute Resolution Centers Affirmative Dispute Resolution Procedure Act Mediation, the University of Texas at Austin’s Advanced Mediation Training, and the American Gas Association’s Accident Prevention Through Informed Supervision.

Don’s professional life reflected both competence and integrity. He worked with Southern Union Gas Company in Austin/Dallas for many years, beginning in roles that included construction and maintenance foreman, engineering technician, serviceman, and serviceman’s helper. His final position there was Employment Supervisor, recruiting professional engineers, attorneys, accountants, geologists, rate analysts, and management personnel for a 2,300-employee staff. He also planned and coordinated the remodeling of the Southern Union Gas Company business office in downtown Austin at 5th and Congress Avenue.

During his years as construction and maintenance foreman, Don took a crew to Galveston in 1961 after Hurricane Carla, carefully crossing the then partially underwater causeway to Galveston Island, staying inside the stake on the sides of the causeway placed there by DPS troopers so that drivers crossing the causeway and Don and his crew would know where to drive their large trucks through the many feet of brown debris filled water. Don and his crew spent many days and nights cutting off gas, repairing lines, turning gas back on, sleeping when they could, eating what was available, and watching out for snakes. Most everything was closed, Don and his crew having met residents of the island, including the local gas company personnel, leaving Galveston as Don and his crew were going in. When some of the restaurants began to open, and America still having discrimination, Don refused to eat inside and instead ate with his crew outside the restaurant.

He later joined Financial Counselors, Inc., a division of Foremost Corporation (now Sebrite Corporation) in Austin, as Director of Administrative Services, establishing a comprehensive program of administrative services including personnel management, purchasing, reproduction, payroll, communications, fleet and office management, and oversight of the physical plant and office facilities. He then coordinated the planning and construction of the company’s new 45,000 square foot, three-story Foremost building in Austin at 220 Foremost Drive, situated between IH-35 and Congress Avenue on a 4,415 acre tract of land.

Both of these buildings exist today as a testament to his immense talent.

Don was subsequently hired by the Texas Department of Community Affairs in Austin as Director of Personnel and Staff Development, where he designed a new program of personnel management and staff development in a newly created state agency. He reorganized service activities and managed printing and reproduction, office equipment and supplies, mailroom, warehousing, telecommunications, office space, and facilities leasing activities. In a significant accomplishment, Don composed the first Texas state agency Affirmative Action Plan approved by the Federal Office of Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and served as Affirmative Action Officer. He defended the Department—losing only one case—and negotiated with federal agencies to settle many prior years’ employment and related discrimination charges. He also coordinated the Department’s participation in the Texas Merit System Council and hired Nelda Wells Spears in her first employment position; she later became Texas’ first black Tax Assessor-Collector, serving Travis County for 20 years.

From there, newly elected Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox hired Don as Director of Administrative Services. Don assisted in establishing and administering agency services including personnel, accounting, data processing, budgeting, printing and reproducing, purchasing and travel offices, and the acquisition and management of office space and facilities. Throughout, Don’s work was marked by thoughtful leadership, a steady hand, and a deep sense of responsibility to others.

When he was not working, Don’s compassion found especially meaningful expression in volunteer service. From 1988 to 2005, he volunteered in the Children’s Day Surgery Recovery Unit of the City of Austin’s Children’s Hospital, assisting registered nurses, comforting children, and holding infants. He logged over 5,000 hours—an extraordinary by any standard of measure.

He was appointed three times by the Travis Central Appraisal District Board to serve on the Travis Appraisal Review Board, hearing property owner protests. He was also certified—6th in a class of 36—as a Radiological Monitoring Instructor through a federally established training course by the Austin-Travis County Civil Defense Department, and served for several years as a Precinct Election Judge in the City of Austin. In recognition of his volunteerism, he was chosen as an Honorary Member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, and he was also a member of the Austin Public Broadcasting System, Austin PBS.

He was most recently recognized by induction into the Gatesville High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the boys Basketball 1951-1952 State Semi-Finalists.

Don’s lifelong involvement in athletics continued into adulthood. He played fast-pitch baseball for the City of Austin’s Recreation Department, winning First Place one year, and participated in the Adult Touch Football program—kicking the winning field goal while barefoot one year for a First Place win. Later, he took up golf, drawing again on earlier experience working part-time at the local Gatesville golf course during high school. In the CAA Fall Tourney of Golf, he won First Place one year and recorded a hole-in-one at Pine Forest Golf Club, #3 Hole, Par 3, 167 yards. He was also fortunate enough to play such golf courses as Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Spyglass, Sawgrass, Doral, and several of the Hawaiian courses.

Don also played on the Longhorn Bowling League, at one time winning the High Individual Series C, 633; the Capitol Bowling Center Men’s 235 Award; and a team First Place one year. He played with the Southern Union Gas Co. bowling team as well, winning Scratch Series one year.

Don’s presence shone brightly—quite literally—through his beloved tradition of outdoor Christmas decorations in lighted white and Longhorn orange. Each year, decorations filled the yard, roof, all sides of the house, trees and shrubs, and the curb—always with something new added, a cheerful offering of light and goodwill to neighbors and passersby. We are not talking about "twinkly lights"; many, many were the "old-timey" C9 bulbs.

Don's accomplishments, demonstrated character, excellent citizenship, and leadership reflected the sterling qualities of a man who was deeply beloved and truly cherished. In the words offered about him: he was "a man for all reasons; a man for all seasons"- the one who could be counted on "in the good times and in the bad times; in the sad times, and in the glad times."

And at this time, Don has gone home to be with his Lord.