David Allen Shafer

David Allen Shafer, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, and friend, passed away surrounded by the love of a family who adored him.

David was born on October 17, 1939, in Alva, Oklahoma, to Carl and AnnaBelle Shafer. He grew up in Alva, where he spent much of his childhood and younger years working in the family business, Shafer Radio and TV. From an early age, David possessed a strong work ethic, a natural curiosity, and a gift for leadership—qualities that would shape an extraordinary life and career devoted to helping others.

David graduated from Northwestern State College in Alva with a bachelor’s degree in speech and sociology. He continued his education at Southern Illinois University, earning graduate degrees in speech, corrections, and the arts. During his younger years, David had a great love for the theater. A talented actor, he performed in numerous stage productions and held prominent roles during his time at Southern Illinois.

It was also during these years that David discovered what would become his life’s calling. While working at a forestry camp for delinquent boys, he was placed in charge of a play production program. The experience revealed his remarkable ability to lead, mentor, and see potential in young people others may have overlooked. His work earned him a fellowship through the Southern Illinois Center for the Study of Crime, Delinquency and Corrections and set him on the path to a lifelong career in public service.

David began his professional career at the Boys Training School in Eldora, Iowa, where he served as a cottage director. He later returned to Oklahoma with his family and became Superintendent of the Helena State School for Boys. He went on to serve as Superintendent of the Rader Center in Sand Springs before accepting a position with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services overseeing state homes and schools.

That opportunity brought David to Edmond, Oklahoma, the community he would call home for more than 47 years.

David devoted more than four decades to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, building a long and distinguished career defined by integrity, dedication, and exceptional leadership. He served for several years as Assistant Director and ultimately as Chief Administrative Officer. He was highly respected by his colleagues and received numerous awards and honors recognizing his work and leadership. David took great pride in his career, but more importantly, he believed deeply in serving others, solving problems, developing people, and leaving organizations better than he found them.

Retirement did little to slow David down. Staying busy, learning, helping, and contributing were simply part of who he was. He volunteered at the hospital and at a local animal shelter, combining his desire to serve with his lifelong love of animals. He also worked at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he mentored others and assisted with the Small Business Administration program. Whether professionally or personally, David had an extraordinary ability to lead, teach, encourage, and help others recognize their own potential.

Outside of work, David had many passions. He loved dogs and horses, cars, and airplanes—and he especially loved anything that went fast. He appreciated adventure, enjoyed staying active, and never lost his curiosity about the world around him. He was intelligent, driven, accomplished, and a natural leader, but those closest to him will remember most the man behind all of those achievements: a man who loved his family deeply and whose presence made a lasting impression on the people fortunate enough to know him.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Karen, with whom he shared 31 years of marriage, and a life filled with love and companionship. He is also survived by his three stepsons, Chris, Sean, and Gary, and his brother-in-law, Gary Halvorsen, all of whom loved and admired him deeply.

He is survived by his daughter, Deidra Kistler; his son-in-law, Brandon; and his two grandsons, Fain and Ewing Kistler. Being a father and grandfather was among the greatest and most meaningful roles of his life, and the love shared between David and his family will remain one of his most enduring legacies.

David is also survived by his brother, Carl Ewing Shafer, and his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and AnnaBelle Shafer, and by his two sons, Dickie and Dirk Shafer. Their loss remained part of the story of his life, and they are lovingly remembered alongside him.

David lived a life of purpose. He was a leader and a mentor, a public servant and an educator, a devoted husband and a deeply loved father and grandfather. He spent his life working, learning, serving, guiding, and caring. His influence can be found not only in the institutions he helped lead, but in the countless lives he touched along the way.

For all that David accomplished in his lifetime, his greatest legacy will always be the people who loved him. His wisdom, strength, stories, humor, determination, and love will be carried forward by his family and by all those whose lives were made better because David Allen Shafer was a part of them.

He was deeply loved, he will be profoundly missed and he will never be forgotten.

To celebrate David's life a service will be 10 a.m. Friday August 21, 2026 at Matthews Funeral Chapel, Edmond, Oklahoma.