Tulsa street sign named in honor of local man who passed away after fight with lung cancer
"I hope that we as a community take him as an example and work together to continue what he felt so passionate about." Don Comstock, a father, brother, neighbor, and friend, dedicated his life to cleaning up weeds and grass in his west Tulsa neighborhood for over a decade. Despite complaints from the community, Don Comstock stepped in and mowed, trim, and pull up weeds. Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith recognized this effort and established a policy for Don's work with the community. The honorary street sign was put up on March 18. Don passed away at the age of 73 after battling lung cancer. A memorial gathering is planned for April 7 at the Case Community Center in Sand Springs.
Published : a month ago by in Health
TULSA, Okla. — Don Comstock who was a father, brother, neighbor and friend cared so much for the west Tulsa neighborhood that he grew up in.
Don would see weeds and grass that grew above your knees and trash in front of his neighbors yards and parking lots.
The community would complain about the overgrown plants to the county, but nothing was being done. That's when Don decided to step in.
For the past 10 years, day in and day out, Don would mow, trim grass and pull up weeds.
His brother, Jon Comstock, said neighbors and the community were moved by his simple act.
"People would stop and say, 'Are you an employee of Tulsa County?' and he'd say 'No.' 'Why are you doing this?' and he'd say 'Because I want to,'" Jon said.
Don also hosted clean up events for the community.
That's when Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith recognized the impact he was making.
Keith told FOX23 that she wanted to share Don's work with the community.
"We set a policy up and we put together a resolution for him and we got that resolution to him on a Friday and the sign went up on a Monday,” Keith said.
March 18 was the day more than a quarter mile of West 3rd Street was honorarily named Don Comstock Lane.
Don passed away just two days earlier at the age of 73 after battling lung cancer.
Keith was one of the last few people to see Don and tell him about his honorary street sign before his passing.
"I'm just so glad that we went on over there when we did and I felt like when I was talking to him that I was saying goodbye. I'm going to miss him,” Keith said.
Stormy Miller, one of Don's neighbors, hopes the community will remember Don.
"I hope that we as a community take him as an example and work together to continue what he felt so passionate about,” Miller said.
A memorial gathering for Don is planned for April 7 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Case Community Center in Sand Springs.
Instead of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Tulsa Day Center.
If you'd like to donate, click here.