Don Marvin Powers

Don Marvin Powers, a man of prayer, went to his heavenly home on February 5, 2026. His life motto was “to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.” Don exceeded expectations, saw the big picture, made things happen, and did not seek the spotlight. His favorite thing was spending time with Love (his name for his wife, G. Kay). He enjoyed airplanes, learning, and traveling. Don lived a life free of worry and trusted Jesus Christ with his eternal future.

Born on February 15, 1945, Don was the middle son of a family of three boys and one girl, all born in Claremore, Oklahoma, to Harry and Lucille Powers, who raised their children with their American values of God, Country, and Family.

He met his beloved G. Kay in 1991 in Edmond, Oklahoma, at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). He said he had searched for her since before he was born, and that his main goal in life was to love her. They married on September 10, 1993, and became practically inseparable. Wherever he went, even to the post office, he wanted her to go with him, so they could “be together.” They were blessed with thirty-two years, living on their honeymoon.

Don’s first job was lawn mowing. Then he became a cowboy and worked from the back of a horse. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a double minor in Political Science and Psychology from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. While attending college, he worked as a disc jockey for KWPR in Claremore, KTLQ in Tahlequah, and KBIX in Muskogee. He reported news, announced play-by-play sports events, and wrote radio ads. He also worked as a reporter for the Muskogee Phoenix and the Times Democrat newspapers.

As a college student, Don became a pilot. He loved airplanes and could identify most of them, old and new, by the sounds of their engines. He always looked to the sky at the sound of a plane and often identified it before others even heard the engine. He was a daring pilot who loved to buzz buildings and fly under bridges. Over time, he concluded that there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.

After college, Don joined the Air Force and spent a year in Vietnam, where he tracked friend and foe over North Vietnam as an Air Surveillance Officer in the Tactical Air Control Center, North Sector. His work in Vietnam pioneered the systems used today by A-WACS planes.

Back in the States, Don earned his MBA at the University of Tulsa and served the City of Dallas as a Budget Analyst, where he helped transition from a manual to an automated Budget and Finance System.

Next, he became Budget Manager for the Dallas Transit System, then Assistant Director of Aviation, with his office at Love Field, close to and with easy access to airplanes. He flew a lot and often flew somewhere for lunch.

Then he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he served as Airport Director for eight years, leading Tulsa International and R. L. Jones, Jr. Airports. He logged more than 3,000 hours in 30 different types of aircraft. As the airport director, he also worked as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., bringing in more funds than the City of Tulsa could match.

Later, Don moved to Kansas City, where he served as Executive Director of Facilities, Transportation, and Capital Improvements for the Kansas City, Missouri School District. In 1991, he joined UCO as Facilities Director, then created the first UCO Department of Environmental Health and Safety and served as its Director for almost ten years.

While employed at UCO, Don and G. Kay earned Juris Doctorates from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and, in 2000, formed Powers at Law, LLC, a 2-member law firm in Edmond, Oklahoma, where Don served businesses and business owners. The firm was recognized by the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce as the 2009 Small Business of the Year and celebrated its 25th Anniversary on November 13, 2025. At Powers of Law, Don and G. Kay worked in the same office every day. Frequently, one of them would say, “Hug Break,” at which they stood, held each other in a hug, and enjoyed a special moment together.

Don, a proud Edmondite, was an active member of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce; the Small Business Owners Association; the Edmond Rotary Club, where he had 28 years of “perfect attendance”; the UCO Emeritus Faculty Association; and Liberty Church Edmond. He also enjoyed Tai Chi Classes with friends, retired from UCO, breakfast on Fridays with the Old Guys, and Sunday Evening Fellowships with church friends.

Don excelled at whatever he did. He was an expert marksman with the M1 Carbine, AR-15, Smith & Wesson Model 10, and the .357 Magnum. One of his oil paintings won first prize in the attorney’s art show at an annual meeting of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He was an amateur ham radio operator with a general class operating license and talked to people around the world.

Known as a patriot, Don deeply loved America, volunteered to serve in the Air Force, became an expert on the U. S. Constitution, and taught it to the public. He authored a pamphlet entitled “The Toolbox of States’ Rights” and a book entitled “Before You Reset the Constitution,” which is in its final editing stage with a publisher. He also wrote legislation for Oklahoma legislators.

He was a founding member of the Oklahoma Campus Safety Association and served on the State of Oklahoma Workers’ Safety Policy Council for more than 10 years. He was a founding member of the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, and a member of a Community Emergency Response Team.

Don also served on the National Board of Founding Forward, formerly Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, which teaches students and teachers the founding principles of the United States.

Preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lucille Powers, Don is survived by his loving wife, G. Kay Powers; his sister, Cynthia Powers of Bellingham, Washington; his two brothers and their wives, Jon and Jo Powers of Evergreen, Colorado, and Rev. Marcus and Linda Powers of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; and six nieces and nephews and their beautiful children.

Don’s remarkable life will be celebrated on February 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., at Liberty Church Edmond, 1230 N. Sooner Road, Edmond, OK 73034. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Founding Forward, 1602 Valley Forge Road, Valley Forge, PA 19481.

Don would say, “Have lots of hug breaks.”