Gail D. Curley

Gail Diane Curley, age 77, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 30, 2024, in Grove, Oklahoma. Raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Gail later moved to Junction City, Kansas. She graduated from Junction City High School and pursued higher education at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.
Gail's life was a tapestry of adventure and exploration. After an early marriage, she embarked on a remarkable thirty-year journey alongside her husband, Albert Curley II, a foreign service diplomat. They lived in nine countries across five continents where Gail embraced novel experiences, people, and cultures, and began a lifetime passion for treasure hunting and collecting objects that appealed to her discerning eye.
In 1998, Gail began a new chapter of her life when she moved to Vinita, immersing herself in the pleasures of a small-town community life. She reveled in the annual parades, rodeos, calf-fries, and Oktoberfest, contributing creatively to their spirit. Notably, for one Martin Luther King Day parade, Gail crafted a prize-winning, life-sized paper-mache rendition of the Statue of Liberty and a larger-than-life cowboy for the Rodeo Parade. She dedicated herself to community service as a Vinita town librarian, as a Legacy Hospice volunteer, and as a relentlessly generous aide to those in need.
Gail's vibrant mind was fueled by her many hobbies and interests. A master problem solver and game player, she excelled at crossword puzzles, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, dominos, and bridge. A prolific collector, her recent interests and expertise centered on early American pattern glass, coins, and myriad collectibles, which she often sold locally and online.
Throughout significant health challenges in recent years, Gail exhibited remarkable resilience and unwavering faith. As her health declined, she met obstacles and setbacks with steadfast courage and grace. Following one year of residence at Hearts worth House in Vinita, Gail had very recently moved to Grandwood in Grove. Although eager to embrace the myriad activities and adventures that lie ahead, her body was unable to surmount the many physical challenges present.
Gail is survived by her loving sister Carol Castor of Vinita, Oklahoma, and her loving children, including her daughter, Christine and husband Richard Weaver of New York, NY, her son J.R. Curley and wife Nicole of Manhattan Beach, CA, and her son Alex Curley and wife Jessica of Katy, TX. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Katherine and Emily Weaver; Ava and Eve Curley; Hugo, Alexa, Connor, and Jack Curley.
A viewing and rosary will be held at Highsmith Funeral Home in Vinita, OK at 6 pm on Wednesday, April 3rd. A Mass at Holy Ghost Catholic Church will follow on Thursday, April 4th at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Vinita, OK or to Grandwood Assisted Living in Grove, OK.
Online condolences may be left at www.highsmithfh.com or on our funeral home Facebook page.
Arrangements are under the care of Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral & Cremation Services.