David Ross Mckown

David Ross McKown, 70, of Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico; Great Bend, Kansas; and Kihei, Maui, Hawaii peacefully passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2024, surrounded by his beloved wife Jan Farmer, daughter Jenna McKown, and his service dog ‘Lil Bubba. David bravely battled Stage 4 Cancer for almost five years. For the last several days, David has been under Hospice care at their home in Taos Ski Valley.

David was born on March 15, 1954, in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. He is the son of George and Martha (Johnson) McKown.

Like his father and three brothers, David attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree and did multiple treks at Philmont Scout Ranch in nearby Cimarron, New Mexico about an hour east of Taos.

David spent the bulk of his childhood in Great Bend, Kansas and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1972. David then attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and later graduated from the Executive Oilfield Management Program at the University of Texas School of Business in Austin, Texas.

David and Jan Farmer married at the First Congregational Church in Great Bend, Kansas on May 10, 1986. For David, their romance was love at first sight. David and Jan began their married life in Great Bend, but soon moved to Maui. Approximately ten years ago, David and Jan returned to live primarily in Great Bend and increasingly at their mountain home in Taos. For the last five years, they have primarily resided in Taos.

David and Jan were blessed with a loving daughter, Jenna McKown, who was born in Maui and has more recently lived in Taos to assist with his care. Jenna can be aptly described as being as beautiful as her mother and as fun-loving as her father.

David began his professional career in rock-n-roll serving as Manager for the band “Baby” which toured nationwide in the 1970s and which recorded three albums. To his rock-n-roll friends, David was known as “Bubba” or “Bubba The Road Dog.” These were nicknames which he proudly used for the rest of his life. David later joined Beaver Productions and promoted concerts for hundreds of rock bands and performers throughout the country.

After transitioning out of rock-n-roll, David worked in the oilfield. David served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for DaMac Drilling, a family oil and gas company which at its peak provided good jobs to 160 employees in Kansas and Oklahoma. Upon moving to Maui, David ran Property Management firms overseeing dozens of apartment and condominium complexes in Maui.

Because David’s brother Bill was a quadriplegic, David was very sensitive to the challenges of those confined to a wheelchair. After Bill had visited David, Jan, and Jenna in Maui, David realized that wheelchair accessible vans were not available to rent in Hawaii. Therefore, even if someone confined to a wheelchair could fly to Hawaii, they could not be transported about the island. David developed a business solution and founded Accessible Vans of Hawaii enabling thousands who were confined to a wheelchair to visit the Hawaiian Islands.

When David and Jan returned to Great Bend, David founded Johnson Bar-B-Que which was listed as one of the ten best hidden gem restaurants in Kansas.

David maintained his love for rock-n-roll throughout his life. For many years in Maui, David broadcast “Bubba The Road Dog” radio show – one of the most popular shows at the time on Manao Radio. David shared his encyclopedic knowledge of classic rock-n-roll music, regaled listeners with personal tales from the road about numerous artists, and played lots of great music.

Remaining to cherish David’s memory are his wife Jan Farmer, daughter Jenna McKown; his brother Charles McKown and wife Gina and nephews Justin McKown, Josh McKown, and Will McKown and niece Michelle Calvert; and his brother James McKown and wife Margaret (Meg) and nephews Cole McKown and Cade McKown.

Preceding David in death are his parents George McKown and Martha (Johnson) McKown, and his brother Bill Johnson McKown.