I’m not even sure how to share this, or even if I should, but I figured some here could likely relate or appreciate it, so here goes. Buckle up, it’s a long one, but there’s no other way to do it right.

This is a story about an old cowboy, a committed husband, a true student of the gun, a teacher, and a mentor.

I first met Dave about 8 years ago. I had recently started full-time at the PD, was working nights, and was beginning my path towards firearms instructor certification. I had a buddy who was the night shift supervisor at a neighboring agency who was at the other end of his career, but had done just about everything you can do with guns during his 30+ years as a cop, including SWAT, instructing, and even co-owning a gun shop with his wife at one point. We ended up spending a lot of time talking guns, shooting, and reloading, and one day he told me there was somebody that I needed to meet.

There was a group of older guys who got together every sunday morning for “church” down at Dave’s house, and they invited me down. As a night shifter, it was hard to drag myself out of bed before noon, but one weekend off I got up at 6:00 (when I normally went to bed) and went down to Dave’s. Dave had a little slice of heaven on his 2 acres, with a backstop, some steel, and a shed with a wood stove. We’d all sit around in the shed drinking coffee while they smoked and told stories. Everything from old cowboy stories, stupid stuff with guns, cop stories, reloading stories…anything you can think of. Mostly gun related. Everybody would bring something for show and tell and we’d pass it around and usually go out and shoot it later. It was gun-guy heaven.

Dave had an extensive training resume. He’d trained at Gunsite, with Massad Ayoob, Denny Reichert, and many others. He knew a thing or two about shooting, especially revolvers. Once it was late enough not to wake the neighbors, we’d head out to the range and Dave would have some drill that he’d set up for us. Sometimes it was hip shooting, sometimes a speed drill, or a woods walk, or even stapling old t-shirts to the backstop for an anatomically correct target. In everything, Dave was a stickler for safety, and kept a clean range so we always picked up the brass.

“Church” was awesome, and I loved going down there. I didn’t get to go as much as the other guys due to my work schedule keeping me on the job every other weekend, and my family needing me at “real church” on my weekends off, but whenever I got a chance I was there.

Dave was in his 70s and suffering from arthritis and a number of other ailments. As it got worse he began transitioning more towards .32s and .22s because the recoil was easier on his hands. He also knew that he wasn’t going to be around forever, so he started selling stuff off. He’d usually check with the church crew first to see if anybody wanted something at the “camp runamuck” price before he looked elsewhere for a buyer. I have a couple of really nice Marlins that I bought from Dave that will someday get passed on to my kids.

Dave enjoyed the fact that I like to tinker and experiment, and would give me project guns to work on. He was an avid collector who had some really valuable stuff, but was also a shooter and had plenty of cheap guns that he was willing to let me try my hand at. It wasn't uncommon for me to go home from church with a loose bag of parts aka “gun in a bag” to reassemble for him. Eventually I graduated to working one some lower-end revolvers…an abomination of a Heritage Rough Rider that he’d cut down to a barkeeper-type thing that I installed a front sight on and recut and crowned the muzzle, as well as a nice little Taurus 94 with a messed up ratchet that was binding on a couple of teeth. I dressed the ratchet and polished the internals on that one to where not only was it restored to proper timing and lockup, but it was a nice slick little shooter. I remember remarking to Dave when I returned it that it was actually a really nice little gun for a Taurus. Every time I came over after that he’d tell me how many chipmunks or cans he’d shot with that gun since I’d last seen him. He used it all the time.

Dave continued to contribute to my development by supplying me with gunsmithing books, parts, and even selling me his drill press and other equipment from his shop that he was no longer using. The prices he charged made it obvious he was more interested in passing on the love of firearms and gunsmithing than making any kind of profit. I know he valued people paying their own way and not relying on charity, but he also wanted to help out his friends while not making it feel like a gift.

The last year was rough on Dave. His wife of 52 years passed away in the fall, and he came down with a number of serious medical issues himself. His doctor was talking to him about moving into a facility, and Dave wasn’t keen on that. I texted him last Tuesday to check on him (Dave didn’t hear too well so texting was always better than a phone call) and he told me he was doing alright but the tubing from his oxygen was a pain. He said he was looking forward to seeing me again when he was feeling better.

Thursday morning I got a call from a buddy who’s a detective with the county. He told me Dave had shot himself. He was out with the family, and they’d told him there were guns all over the house. He said so far they’d only found three. Apparently Dave had left a note and named me and the other “church guys” as people who could help. I told him Dave had been selling stuff off, so I wasn’t sure how many there still were, but I was pretty sure he’d barely scratched the surface.

On Sunday we got together at Dave’s house and had “church” for the last time. The family was there, we looked at pictures, told some stories, and his sister-in-law read us his last note, which was pretty tough to hear. I’ve worked a lot of deaths and a lot of suicides, but never been on this side of one before. I had been feeling a lot of guilt for not reaching out more or spending more time with him, but in Dave’s final note he made it pretty clear that he missed his wife, was tired of being sick, and wanted to go out on his own terms. While I still wish it hadn’t happened, I can understand his choice and I can’t be mad at him for it.

They’d found all (or at least most) of the guns. About a week before he died, Dave had written up a list of his guns and values that he wanted the family to sell off to settle the estate. There was a specific one listed for each of us that he wanted us to have first dibs on, with a price listed. Each one had some kind of personal meaning to the recipient…they weren’t just a gun. Mine was that Taurus 94 that I had fixed for him. That gun is now in my safe and is going to be one of my most prized possessions until it gets passed on to my oldest, who also had the privilege of knowing and learning from Dave.

I’m sad for the loss of my friend. I’m sad for the loss of knowledge and experience that he took with him. And I’m sad that it happened the way that it did. But I’m blessed to have had the chance to know him, and the world is a better place because he was here.

Sorry for the loss of your friend.

So sorry to hear. Sounds like he was one of the good ones-

Another good one gone. The older I get, the better I understand his choice.

You are right, you were truly fortunate to have known such a man as Dave. Posts such as yours and sjtill's in another thread are much more meaningful than a standard obituary. Thank you for this.

Great story…great friend…great memories.

That’s awesome! Probably not the response you were expecting and I did read your whole post.

Clearly, Dave was one of the good guys. He lead a full life, had a positive impact on the lives of those around him, and genuinely cared about those around him. Everybody should be lucky enough to have a Dave in their lives. Like the rest of us, his death was inevitable, but his life should be celebrated. His life is still having an impact because after reading what you wrote, I’m thinking Dave was the kind of guy I want to be.

Thank you for sharing that.

Very nice eulogy and I am sorry for the loss of your good friend.

I hope the rest of the gang can find a way to continue "Church", I am sure Dave would have approved, and it would be a shame for you all to drift apart.

I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like Dave was a great guy and a good friend.

I've been where you're at having lost my long time mentor and best friend a couple of years ago. Bob had a confirmed 4,000 DUI arrests in his 30 year AHP career. He was the older brother I never had. He had also lost his wife suddenly and went downhill from there.

He went into assisted living and didn't do well. I called him regularly and could tell he wasn't AHP300 as I knew him.

I miss him everyday. I'm so sorry for your loss. Just remember the good times and be thankful he was part of your life...

What a great human being. He left a positive mark on this world, and many are better for it.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends. The best thing you can do in his honor is to be that "Dave" for someone else. God Bless.

I am so sorry for your loss of your friend

I am very sorry for your loss.

Thank you for sharing this touching memorial to your friend. Knowing there are people like Dave and people like you who loved and appreciated him reminds me there are things to feel good about in a world that sometimes is discouraging.

My condolences to all.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the condolences. It's been a little hard to process, and it usually helps me to write it all out. I really felt like this was an appropriate place to share because I think Dave would have fit in well here and most would have understood him.

I am so very sorry for you, Dave and the family. End of life sucks no matter how you slice it for everybody.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Like the rest of us, his death was inevitable, but his life should be celebrated. His life is still having an impact because after reading what you wrote, I’m thinking Dave was the kind of guy I want to be.

Yeah, me too. Thanks for that response, trapper. It really resonated.

My condolences.

I am very sorry for the loss of your friend, 92fstech. The amount of hurt and emptiness felt is a measure of the love he engendered and of a life well-lived, but Dave will live on in that wonderful tribute you have given to him. I hope you will share the words you've written with his family. I know they will treasure it.


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92fstech--As with my recently departed friend LeRoy, these guys are wonderful to know and it's tough as shit to lose them, however it happens.
Thank you for posting this. Going out that way is hard for those left behind, but I'm not judging Dave. I might be in his shoes one day, and I damn sure wouldn't like it.
God bless.