Miss You, Dad . . .

After valiantly struggling to live following emergency heart surgery and complications, my amazing Father, David Francis De Vos, passed away on April 23, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.  We are heartbroken and missing him so much. However, we are comforted in the knowledge that we will be with him again one day, if we remain true to our covenants with God. Heavenly Father's great plan of salvation brings peace, happiness and the knowledge that our families can be together forever.  How thankful we are for that assurance and the gift of His care in our time of grief.

Dear family and friends shared our burden of pain in earthly loss as Dad was laid to rest in Salt Lake City, Utah with graveside services there and a later memorial service in his beloved Tennessee.  Both events were a great celebration of the incredible man he chose to be here in mortality and brimmed with an outpouring by all of gratitude and love.

Each day we miss him, but we know he is healthy and busy about our Father's work in Heaven, that he is watching over us and continuing his eternal journey until we meet again. He is ever with each one in all he taught us, in his tremendous example of faith, service and love, devotion to God and to my sweet Mom, and in the happy heart, humor, wisdom and songs he shared with us. 

We love you, Dad.  Thank you for the tremendous legacy you have left us and God be with you and with us, 'til we meet again!

Dad's Obituary:

David Francis De Vos, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend peacefully slipped the constraints and pains of this life for the endless joys of eternity as he passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2016.  He died at Centennial Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee following complications from a heart attack and surgery.

Dave was born April 1,1936 in St. Louis, Missouri to Edward Francis De Vos and Mary Rebecca Towell.  A few years after Mary’s death, his father married Ruth Ann Walters and they had a daughter, Lynn.   They lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and later Memphis, Tennessee.

Dave married Sherron Ann Watson and their sweet marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City Mormon Temple.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attended the Crossville, Tennessee Ward.  Among his callings he served as a gospel doctrine teacher, Sunday school president, High Councilor and Bishop.

Leaving a beautiful legacy of faith and service, a great testimony and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven, he was dedicated to integrity and goodness.

He was a devoted family man.  Dave treasured his wonderful wife, Sherron, and daughters Melanie and Annalissa, and the family who all adored him and sought to follow so much of his wise example.  Being a grandfather was another favorite part of his life and  he was honored to add the roles of grandpa-in-law and great-grandfather, too.

Dave’s thirst for knowledge began early and continued throughout his life.  His formal schooling included graduating from Webster Groves High School, in Webster Groves, Missouri, completing undergraduate work at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, earning a masters degree from  the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and an MBA from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was always learning and sharp-minded.

He served in the Army Reserves.  His professional work included racially integrating a college campus, serving as an admissions counselor for both Stephens and Christian Colleges, working with at-risk teens to redirect their life paths and earn an education, marketing for an international student travel company and being a realtor – sharing the beautiful Tennessee he loved.

Another of his passions was work with Crossville’s Cumberland County Playhouse where he served devotedly in various roles including Chairman of the Board and also starred in shows such as “I Do, I Do,”   "The Fantasticks" and “Tennessee U.S.A.” as President James K. Polk.

Well known for his quick wit and twinkling smile, Dave also had a beautiful singing voice, intelligence, a hilarious sense of humor, and a love of family traditions, education, history, travel, reading and ice cream.  He always had ready and helping hands and took delight in his family and their achievements.  He was also a true fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, BYU (Brigham Young University), SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), and UT (University of Tennessee – especially the Lady Vols Basketball Team).

Remember him for his goodness in serving others, his testimony of Christ’s atonement and resurrection, his love for God and family, and always his grin . . . a favorite saying of his was “If you see someone without a smile, give ‘em one of yours”!  And he did.

He is survived by his wife, Sherron, his two daughters Melanie Ann De Vos Molinaro, and Annalissa De Vos; a son-in-law Michael Victor Molinaro; grandchildren Ashley Molinaro Bernal, Christopher Louis Bernal, Justin Michael Molinaro, Elise Franks Molinaro and Tyler De Vos Molinaro; great-grandchildren Jackson Christopher Bernal and Raegan Kate Bernal; a sister Lynn De Vos Mullet.

Graveside services were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, with interment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park on Friday, April 29th.  A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm  on  Friday, May 13 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Genesis Road in Crossville, Tennessee.

Written tributes may be left about Dave at David-DeVos.forevermissed.com.

“Look to the Rainbow”

What a lovely end to a London day! “Look to the Rainbow” is also a favorite show tune from Finnian’s Rainbow about following dreams. My dad always sang it to me, so it’s a special song that touches my heart.