I could go into the myriad of ways Keith was so important politically here in Oklahoma, and how much I learned from him. And he was immensely important to so many people and causes that often are unpopular but so important. To think of the people across this state who will never know how much Keith personally sacrificed for their better wages, privacy rights, or access to clean water.

 

But I will miss Keith “the friend” more. I have not known many people with bigger hearts than Keith’s. He was an amazingly forgiving person for someone who found himself in the midst of so many fights.

 

I’ve been thinking of my many memories of Keith, and one keeps sticking out more than the others. I think it best exemplifies what I respected most about him. We officed together for a while, and Keith was always showing up with someone who wanted to “get involved” in a campaign or with an issue, or with someone who needed help. This one day a young guy was with him, and I don’t remember his name. Keith introduced me to him by saying, “this is so-and-so and he’s going to be helping us out for the next couple of weeks. His family won’t talk to him because he’s gay, and we are going to help him be proud of himself and stand up for his rights….. no one else is going to do it for him, so he’s going to get involved and change what he does not like about this country.” There are not enough people involved in the work Keith did who both had compassionate hearts, and the willingness to stand up and fight.

 

This was vintage Keith. Open arms and the ability to find the lighter side of any difficult situation. He loved you for who you are. I know Keith was not religious, but he really did personify authentic Christian compassion here in the bible-belt where so often we see some folks who talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk. You’d go by Keith’s home after work for drinks and there would be everyone from a former Governor to the shy, disenfranchised guy I mentioned above ….and Keith showed the same respect and love for people at both ends of the spectrum. There was no exclusive club. Everyone had worth.

 

This Friday, people from all walks of life will come to the Capitol to pay tribute to Keith, and every one of them will genuinely feel like Keith was their best friend…..I can’t think of a better proof for how special of person and friend he was to so many…..I already miss you Keith. Where ever you are now, keep “comforting the afflicted, and afflicting the comfortable”

 

-Senator Andrew Rice

 

I met Keith Smith when we worked together at the Sheraton Hotel in Stillwater – Keith was the lounge manager and I was director of sales.  We were both delegates to the state Democrat convention and we had lunch together every day to plot our “strategy.”  One night during that time, I had a dream about Keith.  I put my hand on my husband’s mustache and said “Keith, is that you?”  The next morning my husband wanted to know just how close Keith and I were.  When I got to the Sherato, I told Keith about my dream.  He pondered for a moment, and then without breaking a smile said, “Tell your husband that the three of us will go to counseling together.”

 

That state convention was an eye-opening experience for both of us.  Keith was not prepared for the open hostility and homophobia from some of the other delegates, but he felt threatened enough that our group agreed that we would not leave his side.  Keith and I were talking about that a year or so ago, and he said “I’d like to see them try that kind of thing now.”  How times have changed!

 

I last saw Keith this past spring when we were both walking into the Capitol in Oklahoma City.  He was carrying a bouquet of lilacs for one of the secretaries.  We had a big smile and a hug for each other and then went on our way. 

 

Keith was a dear friend and a fine human being.  We are all diminished because he is gone.

Mary Lee Warren
Executive Director
Judith Karman Hospice, Inc.
915 South Main
Stillwater OK 74074
405-377-8012

I am missing Keith terribly this week and I admit to calling his home  phone more than once just to hear his voice again.  He was always  there for me.  He always emailed me back within minutes and returned  every call I ever placed to him.  I know Keith was a really busy  person, but he always made me feel like I mattered in this way

And as I've seen it written hundreds of times over, he treated  everyone that way.  Keith made me feel like my opinion matter and  that I could make a difference.  If I asked him to help me with a  project and he wasn't available, he would refer me to someone.  He  never ever left me hanging.  He worked with me a lot on MoveOn.org  events.  I always consulted with Keith about the details of any event  that I was planning as he had a well of information to share.  When  MoveOn asked me to host the No Oil for Congress event, I was to  select a gas station for the location.  I had leafletted with Keith  many times and I knew his feelings about Chesapeake.  I chose a  station on the corner of 63rd and Western which was a high traffic  area, but also right across the street from Chesapeake.  We handed  out leaflets put out by MoveOn, but also some home grown ones  supplied by Keith.  It was always great to have him on your team

He was instrumental in obtaining the permit to protest in Duncan, OK  for the Halliburton shareholder's meeting last May.  I remember when  Jon Cantrell returned from Duncan without a permit, Keith seemed  almost joyful.  He said.."If they don't grant us a permit, I'll just  get Joann Bell from the ACLU involved and we'll get some press out of  this".  He did in fact speak right away to Joann who worked with Rex  Friend who actually did have a little face to face with Duncan  officials about our civil rights.  Needless to say, the permit was  granted

Keith also was excited about the protest that took place at OSU when  bush came to Stillwater to give a commencement speech.  We met at the  Blue Moon on Paseo and there were about 60 people there ready to  rally.  Keith made a huge donation to the protest on behalf of the OK  Stonewall Democrats.  Being an alumni, I know this really chapped  Keith off that bush was speaking at his home school.  I think we made  a difference as there was a huge turnout and there were graduates and  even professors that walked out on the speech to join us

I could cite more incidents about Keith, but I think what I really  mean to say is that he was a dear friend, a hard working liberal, and  I miss him like crazy.  I am honored to have known you, I love you  Keith and always will

Darla Shelden
Oklahoma City, OK
Peace Activist & member of Friends Of Keith's United

This picture is of Keith doing what he did best, campaigning. The girl in the blond dreds is my daughter and Keith was campaigning for Howard Dean at the club they were at. She introduced herself to him because I had talked about him so much. She told him that she is my daughter and he probably made some sort of crack about me. She said today she doesn't remember exactly what he said.
 
I remember he sent me an e-mail saying he had met her. I didn't get to hang out with Keith much, but he was always a lot of fun. I first met him when he was Paul Barby's campaign manager. I seem to remember a western shirt that looked like it came from a flag and a white cowboy hat at the State Convention in Tulsa.
 
I think the last time I saw him was at the October Stonewall meeting and we had a great time. I wish I had been with him when he found out that Wallace Collins had beaten Thad Balkman. I was at Roth's watch party and there was a big cheer.
 
Balkman once called me on the phone to teach me phone etiquette regarding his secretary and Keith thought that was funny. The last time I saw Keith I think I told him that after I sent Thad an e-mail about something he had said or done, Thad sent me a response saying that when I am upset he is sure he is doing God's will. I think the issue had to do with my thinking having the Star Spangled Banner sung in any language is a compliment. I have often wondered what some of the other National Anthems are actually saying. So I think Thad was saying God prefers English. 
 
We discussed how amusing it was that old Thad was talking very tolerant about wanting diversity in the House after Al McAffrey was elected and how he looked forward to hearing Al's views and working with him. Too bad for Thad he won't be doing that. I heard Keith was over-joyed at Wallace beating Thad and I know Keith worked really hard to help make that happen.
 
I will miss him.
Karen Webb

Words cannot express my sadness and sense of loss at the passing of Keith Smith.
 
I lived in Oklahoma City for 9 months and on moving day was introduced to my neighbor, Keith Smith.  I always told everyone that it was like living next door to your brother!
 
Despite a schedule jammed with things of great protent, he always had time for a chat with a friend, to share his wisdom and insight and to give a hug!!
 
Keith was everything positive and there was no down side.  I feel truly blessed to have had him as a friend.
 
Norma Mink Parrott
56443 Elm Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545
normwalt@aim.com

 

 

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