Escambia County Mourns the Loss of Longtime County Employee David Owen

Escambia County is mourning the loss of beloved Public Works employee David Owen after a tragic tree trimming accident on Monday, Feb. 26. David had worked for Escambia County for nearly 25 years, and he will be greatly missed by his colleagues and loved ones.

David’s friends and coworkers describe him as a hardworking, selfless person who was committed to his job and loved his family dearly.

“David Owen is the type of guy you’re never going to replace,” said his supervisor, Randy Brasch. “There’s not another David Owen out there. They don’t make them like him anymore.”

David was an Equipment Operator III for Escambia County’s Public Works Department, a job he took great pride in, according to those who worked with him every day. He would often arrive at work as early as 3:30 a.m. to ensure that he had time to enjoy his morning coffee and get ready for the workday, including starting up his coworkers’ computers and making sure their vehicles and keys were ready to go.

“He loved cutting trees, and I loved being his supervisor,” Brasch said. “This was his life out here – the county was his life.”

David was hired in April of 1999 and served his entire career with the county as an equipment operator. Beyond his dedication to his job and strong work ethic, David was known as a selfless and caring person who looked out for others.

“David would help anybody,” Brasch said. “Everybody in Cantonment probably knew David Owen and his black GMC truck. If David had $10 in his pocket and you needed $10, he would give it to you. He had a big heart. David would do without to help others.”

Floyd Heist worked alongside David for more than 20 years as an Equipment Operator IV, where they spent most days together cutting and trimming trees, driving around the county completing work orders, and just talking about the highs and lows of life as they worked.

“David and I were together 99% of the time,” Heist said. “We were like brothers.”

Just like brothers, Heist said they gave each other a hard time over little things – whether it was David’s small frame, cold-natured tendencies, obsession with tinkering with old trucks, or his daily breakfast of honey roasted peanuts, a Little Debbie snack cake, and a Code Red Mountain Dew.

Heist said he and David built a mutual trust and strong friendship over the years, and he wouldn’t have traded David as his partner for anyone else.   

“He was a good friend,” Heist said. “He would take his shirt right off his back and give it to anybody.”

David had a keen eye and an incredible memory when it came to trees, Heist said, and he would often file away trees or potentially problematic limbs in his “Rolodex” to be addressed as needed.

“That man could spot trees on his day off, and when we didn’t have work orders, we would go back and he would remember them,” Heist said. “He’d be driving down the road and see a tree and file it away.”

As an extremely hard worker who loved his job, Heist said David hated rainy days that slowed down their work. He would get bored easily, never wanting to take a break or have a slow day.

“He was a worker that wanted to work 24/7, because cutting trees was what he enjoyed doing,” Heist said.

When he wasn’t working, David enjoyed tinkering with old trucks, often visiting the junkyard on the weekends to get parts for his next project. David also loved spending time with his grandchildren and family, especially his mother, who he visited daily.

David’s loss will be felt by many, including his Escambia County colleagues, friends, family, and many loved ones.

“David Owen is already incredibly missed by his Escambia County family, and we join his family and loved ones in mourning and remembering what a special person he was,” County Administrator Wes Moreno said. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this tragic loss, and we will continue to support our employees who were close to David as we grieve together. David was a special person who will be remembered fondly for many years to come.”

A visitation for David Owen will be held Thursday, March 7 from 11 a.m. to noon at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 W. Nine Mile Road in Pensacola, followed by a funeral service from noon to 1 p.m. An interment will occur from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.