I hope this time of year brings you special memories.  You are being thought of. Love Michele

Dear Ashlee and family, 
What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. A loving husband, a caring father and a fun papa. He wore so many hats to so many people.  The testimonies are so strong and so powerful.  Your dad, husband, papa left an amazing legacy. One of caring, protecting, helping, helping with tangible things, helping with encouragement,  helping in laughter "a merry heart does good like medicine " he lived the example of this verse. He wanted those around him to experience this verse. He wanted all those around him to have salvation.  He even talked to me about it. His Bible was next to his chair when I saw that I was encouraged and it brought a smile to my face even though he was not home. I felt honored to be sitting in his chair and being in his home. A home where he loved having his children and their spouses and their children and their children in his home. I can imagine the smiles and joy his family gave him. I have seen him display unconditional kindness to his children and to their spouses. He went to no end to help them out.  He in tough times gave love no matter what. He loved because God loved him.  I have not seen but I have heard how he unconditionally forgave my son which helped save his marriage.  I am ever so grateful for that. David had a heart of gold. A heart that could melt steel. A laughter that was contagious.  David studied the word of God and lived it to the fullest.  David is a man that I could say one thing to describe him it would be " a man of honor that gave his life as an example to those around him of how God would want each of us to be like. Forgiving, loving, full of life, excepting, caring, giving."  Even though I didn't have much time with you the time I did have reflected a lot.  Your family will miss you, but you will always be in their hearts. You will always be at every family function.  You will always be dad, husband, papa. Rest in peace.
Michele Giddey 

I remember the time when I was going threw a traumatic life experience after finding about the death of my older sister that Dave opened the doors for me. This definitely wasn’t the first time. He was always super supportive of my friendship with his daughter, my best friend Ashlee. He trusted me enough as to even walk in ash’s room and find me laying with her, (clearly he didn’t see me walk threw the front door) never thought a thing of it, just offered me breakfast like I was part of the family. And all the times he “stole” my bike! 🤣🤣🤣 I’m sure gonna miss that man. Thank you for everything Chris Farley’s twin. As for the rest of the family. I love you guys very dearly with all
My heart. You ever need anything I’m here!❤️

Dad,

I am reading the story you wrote of your life & I would be teasing you for all the errors it's riddled with if you were here.

First, you loved the Application Mts. I am not familiar with them but I do love the Appalachian Mts.

Second, on cold nights you layered in guilt & your grandma knitted guilts. I really think you both would have had better luck with quilts but what do I know.

Lastly, I think your grandma had a medical condition seeing as how she was the sweatiest grandma you could ever want. I like my grandmas sweet, not sweaty.

In your story though, one line stands out to me & all who know you would agree, it read - "For all I have ever done is try to bring some laughter into someone's life, for I believe it heals the hurt, pain, sufferings. lone-lessness & depression that can destroy the soul within. This is my gift that God has richly blessed me with & I am so thankful & grateful to him."

Dad, please don't worry about us. You raised us right. We're doing all we can to take care of mom. 

Jason is working hard to get justice for you. Dena is help getting everything together & organized. Kait hasn't left mom's side, she's been an anchor for her, & I've been doing what I do best, adding in the chaos.

Actually, I am doing all I can to keep everyone laughing & smiling because I know its what you would want. Joking , being a pain, is the biggest thing we have in common & mine is going to only get worse to fill the void you left. I've also started writing your story, it deserves to be heard, people need to know how you stood strong in your faith through some of the most horrible things imaginable. I just hope I make you proud. 

Go rest high on that (application) mountain cause your work on earth is done. 

I love you dad & I miss you terribly. Love sis

P.S. Thanks for the massive forehead & colossal nose. I'll look at them & think of you forever. 





Dear Joy,

I just heard about Dave today. I watched the video and was happy to see what a wonderful family you guys have. Dave and I had a good time knowing each other at Colortech Graphics. We had many conversations about the Bible and he had to convince me about certain details that I found kind of unbelievable. I still tell the story about the time Dave had a big fake spider attached to a string that he lowered down slowly from high above my head in front of me while I was typing. I nearly had a heart attack! I looked up and of course there was Dave laughing hysterically. I wanted to kill him! That's what I remember the most about Dave. He loved to prank me and others and almost always had a big grin on his face. I hate to see that he's gone, but his faith will carry him to a place he so believed in.

I am heartbroken to hear of David’s passing.  We had such good times in our teenage years when he came to Virginia for a visit.  He always has been a person who saw the good in others.  Nephew you are missed. 

I love you <3 I remember all the times you would try to find me when I would hide from you to stay home from school and all the times you would help me with my homework when no one else could after the 4th grade.

2000 words is just not enough. I am getting ready to say goodbye to you today & the pain I am feeling is debilitating. I don't know how I will get through today, but for you & mom, I will do anything.

There are so many stories of you that I just adore. I will share them for a lifetime. I always found fascination in your childhood & upbringing. I wish I could hear just one more.

You left letters to all of us back in 2008-2009. In mine, you asked for forgiveness, & I sit here in marvel in the irony. It is the one thing I wished to ask from you if I had one last conversation with you, to forgive me for anyway I had wronged you & to let you know how much I loved you.

If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be married to a wonderful man. At a dark point in my life you stood by my side & told me everyone deserves forgiveness & everyone was capable of change. You expressed your dark past & the man you had become, & I knew through you, change was possible. I am so thankful I listened to you.

One of my last memory with you I had a terrible week, and the icicing on the cake was when Gage locked me out of the car on a 90 degree day, baby in hand, & phone in the car. All tow truck companies denied help but I was lucky enough to find a gentleman that had the tools we needed but lived 20 minutes away. I wasn't able to call & tell you what I was going through but when you got there you just sat with me. A tow truck pulled up and said it was going to cost me $100 but I knew that other guy was coming so you said, "Ash, be patient, I will talk to the tow truck driver, you sit in the a.c." I was so stressed & emotional but you knew what I needed at that point. I was getting ready to just pay him & you said "Sis, lets give it 10 more min, have a little patience." So I did, & within 5 min the other man pulled up, you talked God with him, & we left. Not knowing I wouldn't get to see  you again. 

I miss you dad. I will always talk about you with pride. Time for you to sing with the angels. 

Uncle Dave was one of the most loving and forgiving person I have ever known.  I treasure all the wonderful memories and will greatly miss all the awesome qualities of his character. He was always fun, sharing jokes, enjoying life, spreading the word of God, but most of all sharing his  love through out our family. I remember standing up in their wedding as a young teenage girl at 17. I was so happy for Aunt Joy, she had married her soul mate.  Uncle Dave touched many lives and will be terribly missed. You will always be loved but never forgotten.   Love ya always, Sharon

I have known David for 19 years. We had so many great memories together. We were in Maranatha church choir, he would always pull my hair and joke around while we were singing in choir. We always messed with each other, he would post funny comments on my posts on Facebook. I’ll miss that. I’ll miss you teasing me! 🤣🤣 We had an inside joke about his eyebrows! That was my nickname for him. I’m so glad to have known him. I’ll cherish every memory we had. I ♥️ you eyebrows!!!! I miss you!!!!  😭👼💔

To the Childress family I love y’all and I’m here for y’all. You’re in my thoughts and prayers! I’ll see y’all tomorrow!! ♥️🙏🤗

Dave,

I cherish the moments spent with you, and regret not having more. If you left us a hundred years from now it would still be too soon. Your memories and spirit will live on, and to be sure even long from now people will still tell your stories; smiling and laughing in remembrance of your cheerful disposition. I know you feel the love all of us have for you, and I know you always made everyone feel loved. One day we'll meet again, and get to see those stars, together.

Love,
Drake

David, I never saw this coming. You have been my friend for over 19 years. Prayer partner & we encouraged each other. You will surely be missed my friend. To the Childress family I love y’all & continue to pray every day for y’all. Losing a loved one is not easy. I know. I lost my parents, 2 brothers & a sister. I’m here for you & love y’all so much. I’ll see y’all Sunday.❤️🙏🤗😘😢

Well honey the day is getting closer for me I have to say my final goodbye. I hope you are there to give me strength know how much I loved you and miss you. I will miss you rubbing my feet and back and watching westerns with me and having coffee in the mornings. No you are my love and I  know when my day comes to leave this world, I know you’ll be there with a smile on your face and a hug waiting for me. I will miss  us teasing each other and getting upset for the little things and then apologizing and saying I love you.  I will miss all the years we had together. I honestly thought we would make it to our 50th Anniversary but God had other plans for us. 

I know you are no longer in pain and suffering. But you are having a good time with your parents and mine and with Debbie doing or saying something silly and you shaking your head with a look of disbelief 🤦‍♀️ 😀

You would be so proud of all the kids and the in laws. They have stepped up to help me and make sure everything is taken care of even me. I would of lost my mind if they hadn’t. I was so worried not knowing what to do and where to start. But they handle it like the troopers we knew they were.

Thank you for all the advice you gave us and the sharing of Gods love with us as only you could do. We all will miss that the most. And you joking around and your smile and those beautiful blue eyes that were captivating and your pure heart that was so loving always. But I want you to rest for now until we are together again because you know it is going to like always 😂♥️

I love you so much and wish you were still here. You were an amazing soul and a heart of pure love and kindness to everyone.  Please help me through tomorrow because I can’t do it without you😭 💔 

Thank you for always loving us all unconditionally and never losing faith in us✝️❤️

I love honey forever and always 
 Joy 🥰❤️





Many fond memories of the hours Dave spent in the backyard playing basketball with us. He taught us more than our basketball coach did. He treated us like we were his own and wouldn’t hesitate to redirect us when we got out of line. He’d make fun of us and lecture us all the same. His chuckles will echo in our minds and hearts forever. His spirit is bright and we’re blessed to have had the time with him guiding us. 

I remember when Papa would take me and Aila home and every time he would stop for McDonald's every time. Papa was the one that would play around with everybody and mess round. Papa was a lot more carrying then anything to people he new and not. Papa worked hard to do lots of things most of the time he would ask me to help. He would all ways talk about story's and heaven.

Hey Dave, I want to start off with thanking you for being a beloved Father and Grandfather to me and Ashlee and our kids, your kindness, loving heart and giant personality will forever be in mine. You not only taught me so much but you also taught my own father how to be a better man. David I am forever grateful for the forgiveness you have given me. You have one the biggest hearts out of anyone I have the pleasure of knowing. 
Past few days I've been reflecting on all you have done for my family. I think about how the past few months you have been watching the kids and the memories they have created and will forever cherish because of this. 
I always enjoyed our conversations about politics, religion, conspiracies and science. You are a man of vast knowledge and yet that never stopped you from continuing to learn. I see where Ashlee gets that from, always striving to learn and grow. 
One memory that stands out is a time we went to the tigers game for my birthday. You were telling me stories about games you had been to and fields you had visited. At the end of the day we drove back home and you told me "Matt someone hit your garage" I turned around looked at the garage door as it slowly opened and there were all my friends and family. Little did I know me taking you to the game was your way of sneaking me out of the house for my surprise birthday. 
More recently we went on the road trip to Montana, one that your daughters put together, that was an awful drive but a wonderful experience to share with you. When we got there I could see the look in your eyes as you stared out the window of the van watching the state you always dreamed to see pass by you. It's hard to remember those things when you just think about all the driving and tossing and turning we all did in the back of the van just trying to get comfortable. But we did it and it was a wonderful trip. 
I love you Dad. 
Your son in law Matthew

A very funny memory I have included Joy. Dave and myself.  My family were visiting from Kentucky and one night I spent with Dave and Joy.  It was dark out and we were going to watch a movie called The Fly.  Joy was sitting on the couch, I was sitting on the floor and somehow without me noticing, Dave ended up somewhere behind me.  He was either in the kitchen or sitting somewhere out of sight behind me.  So a scary scene comes up and I’m glued to the tv not noticing anything going on behind me.  Up pops a closeup the the man whose dna got mixed up with a fly and he ends up with a fly head instead of his own human one.  All is a sudden someone gooses me from behind. I fiercely fall back and crack my head on the floor and see stars.  Mind you the floor had a concrete base covered in carpeting.  I  was seeing stars.  Dave and Joy started laughing but then kind of got concerned about me.  Not sure I remember what I was doing to cause concern.  Can’t remember.  Till this day sometimes I feel I’m not far from a headache when I have this memory.  Good times from long ago.

Papa, 

You will be missed dearly and forever, by all of those who knew you. You were always the first to ask about everyone else and the last to talk about yourself. The conversation always started with “how’ve you been” and “are you taking care of yourself” and ended with an “I love you” and “you take care of yourself”. You truly were one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met and I’m honored to say, “that was my papa.” 

I have so many memories with you and will cherish them forever, I just wish we still had the time to make even more. You taught me to not live life to seriously. You had this carefree spirit that made the room lighter, I might miss that the most. 

I love you very much and will continue to tell Marcus about you, the impact you had on everyone around you and how much you loved him already. 

Papa,

The memories we share are ones that I will hold close to me and share with my kids as they grow older.  One of my favorite memories will be during the years I lived with you and you would wake me up because you were making pancakes, we would share breakfast together and a cup of coffee over a conversation that would turn into us laughing while teasing each other. 

I’ll never forget the times we spent camping, especially when you thought it would be funny to throw a shoe into the trees from the door as I was roasting a marshmallow down at the campfire and you yelled “bear!” I took off so fast by the time you lifted one foot I already beat you into the cabin. 

A memory that still makes me laugh is when you asked me to give you a haircut, you were real particular on how you did not want to be bald, I tried so hard to make it look how you wished for it to. When I was finished we looked in the mirror and it was a bull cut, I ended up having to shave your head bald so it could grow back evenly. I laughed every time I would walk in the house seeing you with your new hair cut and you would side eye me and giggle. 

I will miss the game nights we would have playing Uno or 10,000. I’ll miss the special request for me to bring the wine as you only wanted one glass which would turn into a night full of laughter as we finished the bottle together. 

I have so many memories I could fill a book with, you were a great man. A man who helped teach me to have grace, to always have forgiveness in my heart and to trust in God. I wish I had one last time to tell you how thankful I am for all that you’ve done for me. You were always someone I could depend on when I needed the extra help. 

Our last conversation you asked me to pray for you. I assured you I was and to keep fighting hard. I am proud of you for giving it your all, now I’ll be praying for you to finally be at rest. I love you dearly! Here is a pic of the next grand baby waving Hi!

My heart breaks for you all. Dave was a simple man of simple means. He believed in God and the his forgiveness and he believed in his family. If you weren't family walking in the door you were family by the time you left, truly.  Everyone was accepted, loved, teased, and instantly part of the family.  He's been accepting and forgiving me for decades but he was always there. Always wondering how I was, happy to see me, curious what I'd been up to, worried that I was working to hard, always trying to make me laugh or raise my spirits or offer encouragement when I couldn't see the purpose. Always so proud of my accomplishments as if he had been there from the day I was born. Always loving, accepting and patient with me no matter what was going on.  Something I will always be grateful for and miss greatly. He made sure to tell you he loved you everytime he saw you and meant it. Something everyone can aspire from him was his capacity for love, forgiveness, and generosity.  He had a special relationship with not just one of his kids but every one of his kids and demonstrated over and over that he would do anything for them and absolutely anything to make them laugh. His love was genuine, his forgiveness was unconditional, and his silly sense of humor was guaranteed. Always searching for aliens and buried treasure. He had THE BEST conspiracy theories and pranks sometimes bordered unforgiveable. He had the best stories that could fill a room or could sit in the kitchen and talk to you for hours solving all the world's problems or just helping you solve your own. The quiet everyone is feeling now is deafening. The loss and grief of this great man will be felt across generations. I hope one day you can make the journey to peace, I hope you find comfort in his love and the laughter he gave you, and remember his light in these dark times. He loved you all soo much and was proud of every one of you and he absolutely knew how much you loved him and took all that love with him.

Dad, I miss you a lot and will forever have you with me. 
We have a lot of memories together. Ones that stick out right now is playing sports and you coaching me, going fishing and me netting them up, to trips we took to the U.P., to Traverse City and camping trips, to cider mills and mens church camp.
Its still hard to believe you and here (physically) but I know you will always be here spiritually with us. 
I know the Lord is proud of you and responded with "well done good and faithful servant". 
Know I love you and I am beyond grateful for all the help and assistance in life and the guidance and wisdom you would share.
I wish I could hear more wisdom from you especially on the bible.

I love you. We will see each other again at some point. 

Here is a picture of your most recent Great-Grandson - Marcus Avery Ina.

I never told you this but I’d always cry thinking about the moments you would no longer be here. It was always a fear of mine that constantly repaid a visit in my mind, something I harbored alone and in silence. I wish I would have opened up about it with you, that way you’d get to know how much I love and adored you. You’d know the emptiness I’d feel without your presence, the fond memories I’d always be drawn to and the voice I would yearn to 
hear say “ I love you sis”. 
Though I’m hurting without you here I’m still so happy to have known the man you are and beyond grateful you made me the person I am today “ daddy’s baby” mommy’s maybe. 

I love you dad. Always together forever. 




Dave, I miss you so much. It is very hard knowing I can’t see your beautiful blue eyes and hear you kind voice for a while. You loved me unconditionally and forgave me the same way when I was being my difficult self which was to often. I am sorry I was so hateful. You don’t realize which you had til it’s gone. This is so true. I can’t sleep at night knowing you are gone. I will miss your silly ways and comical sayings. Please forgive me for my attitude most of the times. I will never forget no matter the situation that arose. You were always so forgiving ,  loving  and affectionate. I thought I had a lot more time to be with you. And boy was I wrong that they came way too soon.
Just remember how much you’re loved and that I will be waiting for you to give me a sign that you are around and I wish name to what I’m saying.
Please just remember I loved you more than you’ll ever now and I will spend the rest of my loving trying to make up for my ignorance  and attitude. 
Just know I will never forget how much you like me unconditionally i and was  always there for me no matter what.
Just know my prayer would have been answered I was I just spent my life making sure you knew how much you were loved and would never question it.
Thank you probably always being there and so dependable when I needed you. Please forgive me for not doing the same for you.  
Thank you forgiving me and the kids in the grandkids the best life possible. And your kindness and love will be with us forever and we will try to resonate all your love and kindness with others. I love you very much and hope to get a smile and a hug that I will never let go. 
Your loving why joy

It feels just like last week I was helping you take care of Ashlee’s kids. It’s crazy to think that that’s a memory I won’t get back. I wish I could sit down and watch one more of those old movies with you- one of the ones where you could tell me everything that happens down to the exact detail. If there was any possible way I could’ve foreseen any of this happening, I would sit down and talk to you, at least just once. I’d try to tell you everything happening in my life, so I could try take back that childhood I never got to have with you.

I miss you a lot and love you so much, you always made me laugh when I felt sad. I will never forgot when you were talking with me and you acted like you flipping the pages in a book, and your face was hilarious, you look like a Gen-Z girl listening to ‘tea’ and it makes me laugh every time I think about it. You and I had a funny language and we would always start with “Oobi Sabi Wabi Sabi” and some we had made fun of Gage and if not we just talked like that. But, in Montana I remember us talking about that language being something that could be used in an alien movie, probably because of Star Trek. But in Star Wars The Force Awakens a few people were talking a different language so I thought of that at the time. It makes me smile remembering the good times we had, I’ll always love you and I’ll pray that everyone stays nice and healthy.

Dad, I miss you so much already. You were taken too soon. I thought I had so much more time to spend with you to create memories. I wish I had gotten that trip in that I wanted to plan someday soon with you and mom. 

You were such a caring person and taught me to love unconditionally, that it’s better to forgive and forget. I always lived up to that. I knew you were very knowledgeable in that area as you had a very hard life that I never could understand though you often talked about it to me. I will miss those stories you would share with me, good and bad. If I could just get to listen to more I would have sit and listened until your heart was content. 

I know you wanted nothing more than for your family to be happy. You wanted us to have everything you didn’t have in life. I will be forever grateful for that and wish I could tell you how much I love you.   All I have is the memories to share of you which I won’t let fade. You will always have a piece of my heart which is breaking into a million pieces. 

One day I will see you again until then know I will always love you. 

Dad, I’ve lost such a large piece of me. You kept me grounded for so long. You taught me how to forgive the worst, to be patient even when it’s stretched thin, and to see the good in everyone. I still had so much not to learn from you and so many more memories to make. You seen me at my worst and best and loved me through it all. I got to spend so much time with you the last few months, and had I known it would have been cut short I would have hugged you more and just been there for you, and let you binge on all the junk food until your heart was content. I got to take you to Montana in May and I’m so blessed that I got that special moment with you. You didn’t have a mean word to say about anyone, and I can’t recall a person that you didn’t like and I aspire to be like you in that manner. You are a man among men and I pray my boys grow to be half the man you are. I miss you already and love you unconditionally. I’m sorry if I didn’t tell you that nearly enough. Thank you for loving me even through the tantrums and teens. Until I see you again, my heart will long for your presence. Love you  always, your little girl, Ashlee.

Joyce, Louie and I are so sorry for your loss. Please call as soon as you get settled.  Love always, Mary & Louie

OBITUARY

David K. Childress

1 July, 1954 – 28 September, 2021

Kaul Funeral Home

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