Dave was a talented guitar player and a gentle guy with a good sense of humor. His only fault was that he was determined to self-destruct. But for proof of his good side, see the picture at the bottom of this page of him sitting with Ed's dog Albert, and consider that Albert was very picky about who he befriended (he usually growled at me). Anyway, I'll try to write more about Dave later. I couldn't find an obituary because (I think) nobody was left in his family to write one. Here is the email chain I received after he died. The latest message is at the top and the earliest is at the bottom (email addresses have been omitted):

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Subject: David Yoakum From: -
Sent: Tue 4/18/06 4:49 PM To: -
We were told that David Yoakum had passed away recently and wanted to know if anyone has any details about this. One of his old friends contacted me and asked, but we have not heard anything, not even that he had died. David moved away from MLT when he sold his house a couple of years ago, and that is the last contact we had with him. Prior to that, we were trying to help him get rid of some "roommates" that had moved in to his place and were causing some problems in the neighborhood (and taking advantage of Dave). We really liked David (and Rex) and were sorry to hear had passed. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks,
(NAME & EMAIL OMITTED)
Police Services Supervisor
Mountlake Terrace Police Department
5906 232nd Street SW
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

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RE: FW: David Yoakum
From: Jim Harrell (-)
Sent: Fri 2/17/06 6:09 PM
To: Bill Kimball; Ron Harrell

The song was "Long, long ago" (click to hear song - Bill)

Live from Planet Granite,
Jim

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From: "Bill Kimball" <->
To: Ron Harrell
CC: Jim Harrell
Subject: RE: FW: David Yoakum
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:11:28 +0000
Thanks Ron. If you find out anything please include Rebecca Risher (-) in the email. Not too long ago someone in a bar we were playing at was telling me how Dave, as a teenager, worked and worked and worked on getting a simple guitar part down. I can't remember what song it was but it wasn't rock and roll, something out of a beginning guitar book. Then in no time he was playing Johnny Winter style! Probably from hanging out with Brian Davidson. There was so much talent in Mountlake Terrace that just self-destructed. They could've been contenders!

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>From: Ron Harrell <->
>To: "Harrell, James V" <->, "Bill Kimball" <->
>Subject: RE: FW: David Yoakum
>Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:31:11 -0800 (PST)
>Karen Marchioro, who used to be the head of the state Democratic
>Party, grew up in the same town in Illinois as Carlotta. I think
>the sister might still live there. I've got an e-mail in to Karen
>to see if she might have any information.

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>"Harrell, James V" <-> wrote:
>Not that I know of. I sent a note to Mary Smith, she and Dave used to be
>pretty tight.

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>From: Ron Harrell [mailto:-]
>Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 7:57 PM
>To: Jim Harrell; Bill Kimball; Harrell, James V
>Subject: Re: FW: David Yoakum
> > > Hoo-boy. I know that there was a sister in Illinois, but I don't
>know where or a name or anything.
> > Has anyone contacted this woman about services or anything?
> > Ron

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>Jim Harrell <-> wrote:
> Another one bites the dust....

> > > > Live from Planet Granite,
> Jim

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> From: "Bill Kimball" <->
>To: Jim Harrell
>CC: Ron Harrell
>Subject: FW: David Yoakum
>Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 14:44:41 +0000
>Jim, the only family I knew of was Kevin and his mom. Do you know of
>anyone else?

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> > >From: "rebecca risher" <->
> >To: Bill Kimball
> >Subject: David Yoakum
> >Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:00:24 -0800
> > > >Hello, my name is Rebecca Risher and I am a friend of Dave Yoakum.
> >David passed away yesterday in a nursing home in Edmonds. I am
> >trying to contact any family that he may have and I am having some
> >difficulties. I have only known David for a few years and his
> >schizophrenia was a bit of a problem, I never knew which of his
> >tales were real. I believe he has a sister in Illinois but I
> >haven't been able to contact her. I do know that he played with
> >Eddie Spaghetti in 1972... I would be very grateful for any
> >information that you may have. My email address is -
> >and my phone number is -.
> >Thank you so much for your time.