DAVID KIRK SHAVER, JR.
October 16, 1940 ˜ August 18, 2022

On Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, David Kirk Shaver, Jr. passed away after a decade-long struggle with Fronto-Temporal Dementia. He was born Oct. 16, 1940, in Bristow, OK, the oldest of four children, graduated Vancouver High School in 1958, Clark Community College in 1960, and attended Chico State University. Following the Cuban Missile Crises he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force servicing Minuteman Missiles as Airman at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT, during the Vietnam War. Subsequently, after graduating Portland State University, he became a Structural Engineer in Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA, before holding a position as the structural plans engineer for Clark County and the City of Vancouver. On Oct. 27, 1962 he married Mertie Smith, and they would raise four sons, Kol, Darren, Kyl and Klay, and three daughters, Danielle, Katrin, and Dominique.

Dave was passionate about cars from boyhood, dreaming of designing and building cars and hot rods, and of racing. He loved reading car magazines, science fiction, mysteries, and adventure, and his love of books inspired two more generations of his family into becoming book lovers. His family, service to his community, faith, dry wit, and work ethic inspired and guided all who knew him. He served as the taxi for generations of children and grandchildren, driving them to berry fields, swim meets, soccer fields, and work. He remodeled homes, ran fence, chased escaping cattle, and rebuilt the family VW bus engine innumerable times, traveled the world, and later in his spare time watched over a bookstore. He was preceded in death by his mother, Tolliefy Rodgers Shaver; father, Kirk Shaver; and sister, Sharon. He is survived by his wife, Mertie; seven children; his sister, Mary; brother, Larry; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and fourteen grandchildren, Alexis, Orion, Tyler, Nicole, Courtney, Alex, Ian, Kayla, Aiden, Chase, Cathrine, Sierra, Carson and Camden.

Graveside service will be held 10:30 a.m., Sept. 3, 2022 at Park Hill Cemetery in Vancouver, WA. Donations sent in memory of David, may be directed to Lisa Schlonga Missions/Memorial Lutheran Church, 2700 E. 28th St., Vancouver, WA 98661 (Ukrainian Refugee Relief); Alzheimer's Association, 5285 Meadows Rd., Suite 451, Lake Oswego, OR 97035; or Community Home Health & Hospice, 1035 11th Ave., Longview, WA 98632.