David Powell

David Wayne Powell loved music, movies, socializing, sleeping in late, staying up all night, and
finding humor in whatever circumstances he found himself in. During recent months, David had
fallen back into hard times, but kept his spirits up through social media sharing about his nights
in a homeless shelter and days in his late mother's red 2003 Toyota Highlander. He passed
away at the age of 66 on October 21, 2021 of an apparent heart attack within days of a
receiving a tongue cancer diagnosis. As a longtime smoker and person who enjoyed joking with
people, he might've considered this a blessing that spared him the surgery and treatments that
would've surely curtailed his favorite pastimes.
David kept friends and family up to date on his life through Facebook where he had found a
platform to unapologetically rant against right-wing politics and comment on things he found
absurd. He also enjoyed sharing fond memories there.
Born in Ardmore, OK on August 2, 1955 David was raised by his mother Martha Sue Heinlen,
his Aunt Helen Ruth Heinlen, and his Grandmother Ursula Mae Heinlen in the small southern
Oklahoma oil town Healdton, best known as the birthplace of the late TV star Rue McClanahan.
The family moved to Midwest City in the early 1960s and David graduated from Midwest City
High School in 1973. During high school he played trombone and baritone in a band called
Odyssey that traveled and performed and earned him a reputation for his musical talent and
charisma. He was awarded a full-ride music scholarship to Central State but chose to move to
Las Vegas instead and pursue a career in the music industry. He dreamed of seeing his name in
lights.
It was clear to his family by the age of four that David had a musical gift. His Aunt Missy recalls
him sitting at the piano as a kindergartener, his feet dangling from the bench unable to reach the
pedals, playing church hymns by ear. His Aunt Helen, who was a piano teacher, tried to work
with him but he wanted to learn his own way. He got to where he could play any brass and wind
instrument as well as guitar, and he finally relented to learn how to read music so he could write
compositions for work. One of his best known can still be heard every holiday season when the
BC Clark Jewelers jingle hits the airwaves, and can now be found on YouTube.
At the pinnacle of his career, David was living in Southern California and working with a partner
who managed the business. Never great with money, and caring only about the quality of the
music, David aspired to compose movie scores like his idol John Williams. He worked as a
composer and arranger for country western music stars like Emmy Lou Harris and Ricky
Skaggs. Those who loved David admired his talent and wished he had applied more discipline
to his career, but David valued having fun and was proud of his ability to work half the year and
play the other half. One of his prized possessions was an annual pass to Disneyland.
When 9/11 threw the nation into panic, work for musicians like David came to a halt and his
business partnership ended. He reluctantly moved back to Oklahoma City where he cobbled
together projects and later helped care for his mother. He acquired a couple of kittens. He kept
up with technology and the entertainment world. He rekindled old friendships and made new
ones.
David never cared a lick about sports and he never married or wanted to have children. He took
poor care of every car he ever owned, although he bragged about his driving etiquette pointing
out that he always used his turn signal, unlike many rude drivers out there. He enjoyed taking
road trips when he had a car that could make it, playing music full volume and driving through
the night to reach his destinations.
David had a booming voice and long loud laugh that irritated his Uncle John to no end, but
amused many others. He laughed easily and often, cracking up himself and others with his
boisterous stories. He engaged with people everywhere he went and liked it when waitresses
wore name tags so he could interact with them personally. He was outgoing and opinionated
and obstinate. He had an addictive personality. He was an only child. He was the only
grandchild for eight years before his cousin Kimberley Anne was born. When she got a little
older he got a kick out of dragging her into his teenage mischief. He loved his doting Mamaw
maybe more than anyone else in life. He loved going to amusement parks, swimming pools, and
studying astronomy.
David is survived by his Aunt "Missy" Mary Anne Kidd of Lakewood, CO, and his three cousins
Kim Richardson of Seattle, WA, Kristen Kidd of Highlands Ranch, CO, and Joanna Zeromski of
Guffey, CO. His beloved two pet cats have been in foster care since August as he had hoped to
get them back some day, but also had the assurance they would be well cared for if not.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the City Care Collective in Oklahoma
City in David Powell's memory. He embraced his experience at the shelter as a new adventure
and made an impression on the staff members there who appreciated his friendly ways.