Noel David Harter II

Noel David Harter II was born December 8, 1951 in Oklahoma City to Peggy Ann Harter and David Leon Harter. Throughout his life, he earned numerous certifications in all aspects of electrical, mechanical, drafting, engineering and design. David was known throughout his life for being able to figure out how anything worked just by looking at it, taking it apart and putting it back together again. There was no need to call anyone if something broke and Dave was around.

This knowledge and desire to know his way around the workings of anything and everything began early on with his love of motorcycles. His mother, Peggy would let him do anything he wanted in their home, from repairs to modifications. Later on, as a young adult, David put that desire and knowledge to use in the family business at Harter Concrete as the overseer and operator of general plant maintenance from 1967-1985.

After this, he spent time both as an electrician for his own company, H & H Electric, and sound designer for Hi-Tech Tronics before he realized a lifelong dream of opening his own motorcycle shop with his friend, Jim Wolfe. Edmond Cycle opened its doors in 1996, and his family and friends remember vividly how proud he was when he became an authorized Triumph dealer. Even years after the doors of Edmond Cycle closed, people would still show up at the location looking for ‘The Motorcycle Shop’.

Just a few years ago, David retired from his position as Senior Project Manager and Electrician at GTS Energy and took on some new hobbies in addition to his others. He loved to pal around with his next-door neighbor, Jim Whitfield. They could be seen together whizzing around the neighborhood on their Gators and occasionally counting squirrels. He was looking forward so much to being able to travel with his beloved wife, Vicky; and being able to spend more time with his children and grandchildren.

David has always been deeply committed to his friends and family. Those who know him know all about his passion for building, fixing, and riding motorcycles of all shapes and sizes. The time spent riding dirt bikes through the mountains with his friends and family made up some of his greatest stories and memories. David holds the record amongst the riders in his crew for the most times helicoptered off the mountain to the hospital. He never did anything in half measures.

David started his own racing team in the early 90s. Not only did he build and fix bikes for his family and friends, but he would take anyone that showed an interest in the sport under his wing…and even get them fully equipped. All for nothing in exchange …except for maybe having them mow and weed-eat his two-acre lawn. There are so many children that are now adults who would say that Dave taught them everything they know. The years of the NDII Racing team were pivotal in so many lives and were very special to him.

In recent years, David was devoted to another family business, Harter’s Wands. He and his youngest daughter Beth spent countless hours together in The Shop, talking and creating and daydreaming about what they would try next. Their closeness, creativity, and eye for detail quickly turned their venture together into a highly successful Etsy business that he was very proud of to the end.

That pride in his girls was so evident in every story he told. The music of his middle daughter, Allison was a source of great pride for him. He could be found at many of her shows, and kept souvenir tickets and articles from each one. He did everything he could to encourage Ali to reach the next level of success in her career in music, from financing records to telling her she needed to audition for television singing programs. He told everyone he met about her and what she had accomplished in her music career. The accomplishments of David’s children were his accomplishments, too.

That’s why he was so proud of his eldest daughter, Katherine’s artwork, writing and illustration. When she illustrated a book for the town in which she lived, David pushed for her to write and illustrate a book of her own; offering to finance it and get whatever she needed to finish the task. Once someone showed aptitude and interest in something, David was all in. He would outfit and equip you to the level of any professional in the discipline you were working in. His generosity knew no bounds.

When his wife, Vicky showed an interest in stained glass, he immediately bought everything she could ever need for her to make pieces that could rival the Tiffany company in regards to their equipment set up. Any time she needed a craft based project for work, he was all in and there every step of the way to make sure what she needed was of the highest craftsmanship and quality. His generosity didn’t just stop at material things, however. When Vicky went back to school to achieve her Bachelor’s degree, his emotional support and encouragement was bountiful and bottomless.

Though David and Vicky never got to achieve their dream of traveling in retirement, the trips they did take throughout their lives were memorable. From riding through the mountains of Colorado, Utah, Montana, or South Dakota, spending time on David’s parents’ houseboat, to taking family trips to Disney World; David planned every moment to make sure both he and everyone around him were living the moment fully. Whether that meant seeing the sights, eating at highly rated restaurants, or spending his time in the engine of the houseboat making repairs and modifications. He could often be found in the inner workings of things, tools in hand, making sure everything was running as it was supposed to. It was one of the ways that he protected those he loved.

His surviving sibling, Judy, has many stories to tell about that protective role. She and many others would describe him as macho on the outside but tender and giving on the inside. Judy will tell you that although he would tease the ones he loved, no one else was ever allowed to. He would fight for his family and friends no matter the circumstances. David was fiercely loyal, blusteringly protective, so archetypally masculine that he could rival John Wayne in the movies that he loved; and still somehow managed to maintain the achingly sweet, kind, and giving heart of a child.

He was the corner stone in the soaring masterpiece of the building of our lives that were only possible because of him. He held us all up, kept us together with his strength. The words ‘he will be sorely missed’ are not enough. There has been, and will never be another man like Noel David Harter II. Son, brother, Papa, father, husband. We love you. The most.

David was preceded in death by his grandparents Noel and Allene Harter and Charles T. and Lela Hutson, his parents Peggy Ann and David Leon Harter, his uncle Pat Harter, cousin Todd Harter, and his brother Mark Douglas Harter.

He is survived by his sister and brother in law Judith Ann and Steve Riley of Oklahoma City, his wife Vicky Lynn Harter of Edmond, his son Christopher David Harter of Edmond, his daughter and son in law Katherine Lynn and David Michael Farrow of Edmond, his daughter Mary Allison Harter of Oklahoma City, his daughter Elizabeth Noel Harter of Edmond, and nine grandchildren.