Davy John Marshall

Davy John Marshall was born April 12, 1948 in Bellflower, CA. He passed away at the age of 75 on April 10, 2024 surrounded by his family and loved ones. Davy graduated from Richmond Union High School in Richmond, California in 1966 and from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1970 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Davy loved learning and went on to receive his MPA in Administrative Organization and Management in 1980 and his MBA in Health Services Management in 1989, both from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.

Davy married his sweetheart of 54 years, Melba Darlene Golightly in the California Oakland Temple on December 20, 1969. Davy was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings throughout the years. He knew he was going to marry Melba the first time he met her when he was 15 years old. Melba was the love of his life and even after 54 years of marriage he continued to tell her multiple times a day just how much he loved her.

Davy and Melba had seven children whom they raised in Vacaville, California. Their children kept them busy throughout the years with soccer, football, drama, girl scouts, boy scouts, school and church activities. Davy’s family and faith have always come first. Davy was not only a wonderful Dad to his own kids, but over the years many of his kid’s friends adopted him as their Dad because he was so caring. Davy was a dedicated Scoutmaster for many years, called to work with the youth of the church, teaching life skills and camping in the great outdoors.

Davy loved being outside in nature, especially in the garden. He found peace and solace among the beautiful flowers and trees and enjoyed watching his garden grow given all the time and love he put into it. He especially loved roses which he would often pick and bring into the house to give to his sweetheart. Davy was a voracious reader and always brought a book along with him. Davy loved working with his hands and working on DIY projects in his home and could just about fix anything. If there was something he didn’t know how to do, he would pick up a book and figure it out.

His children remember Davy for his adventurous spirit and trips to the ocean, picnics, camping trips to the Redwoods, the California and Oregon coastline, Yosemite, sledding in Tahoe, Bear River Reservoir, as well as many trips to visit family in Oregon and Utah. The family enjoyed day trips to Great America, Six flags, Micke’s Grove, trips to San Francisco to visit Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, China Town, Lombard Street, Coit Tower, many museums, a ride on the Cable Cars or a Bay Cruise.

Davy loved being a dad and was very playful, in which Melba would often teasingly call him her biggest kid. Some of his children’s fondest memories include time spent with his kids swimming and dunking them in the water, wrestling, carrying them around on his shoulders, letting his kids slide down his back, carrying them up to bed when they had fallen asleep, swinging them around in circles until they were dizzy, dancing with them, working on small woodworking projects, putting together an HO scale train set, listening to oldies music while working on cars or on car rides, singing Christmas carols while driving around to look at Christmas lights, watching action movies with a diet soda and a big bowl of popcorn in his lap and a quick trip to Thrify’s to get a double scoop of ice cream.

Davy was a hard worker and always held jobs where he was helping other people. His first real job out of college was with Standard Oil of California where he worked for 25 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. He handled collections and then went on to become a QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) Specialist handling the death and divorce benefits for the company. Davy worked for Sempra Energy in San Diego handling QDRO’s for close to 4 years. When the family moved to Saratoga Springs, Utah in 2005, Davy found work with Zion Bancorp in Salt Lake City, Utah. While there, he again worked in Human Resources with QDRO’s and volunteered many of his lunch hours providing service delivering Meals on Wheels to the elderly in the area. In 2013 on his 65th birthday, Davy retired anxious to get started on his bucket list.

After retirement Davy loved spending more time with his family, especially time spent with his grandchildren. He was so grateful to have most of his children and grandchildren living close by so that he could be a big part of their lives. His grandchildren described Davy as being caring, sweet and kind, fun loving, silly, and happy in nature, hardworking, a righteous example, and a true disciple of Christ. He will be remembered for trips to the park, BBQ’s roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire pit, water balloon fights, car shows, his Goofy impressions, taking them trick or treating, and hearing about his most recent project(s). Davy loved all the noise, laughter and commotion when the family would all come together. For him it was music to his ears and the more the merrier.

Davy and Melba enjoyed travelling and would visit their children and grandchildren in Oregon and California as often as they could. Several years back they took a memorable trip back east to see many National Monuments and sites including all of the LDS church history sites which had always been something they had wanted to do. Some of their other travels included Victoria and Whistler in British Columbia, Canada, and cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Caribbean and more. Davy especially enjoyed seeing so many of the sites in person that he had only previously read about. If given more time there were so many more places he had wanted to see, but he hoped there would be some way to see them from heaven. As his time grew near, he looked at death as a new opportunity for more adventures and not something to be feared.

The simplest of things would bring Davy joy; a beautiful sunny day, some beef jerky in his pocket, a family get together, wearing his ball cap, a road trip up the canyons, cutting open a big watermelon, a shopping trip to DI, holding his sweethearts hand and dancing with her, having a grandkid or two on his lap watching cartoon, etc. The list could go on and on. But his family will especially remember him for all the hugs and love he gave them, his humble, kind nature and his love for his Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. Davy was a true believer and disciple of Christ. He gave a life of service and was always willing to help everywhere he went and to anyone in need who crossed his path. He was a wonderful example of a life well lived to his children, grandchildren and to all those whom he loved and adopted into his family along the way. Davy was an amazing Dad and his family called him Superman. This title will always belong to Davy because in his family’s eyes he was a super hero.

Davy is survived by his loving wife, Melba Darlene Golightly Marshall; children: Preston M. Marshall, Jonathan E. (Maelynn) Marshall, Rebecca D. (Sergio) Marshall-Juarez, Nathan D. (Jennifer) Marshall, Crystal M. (Casey) Marshall-Snyder, Rachel M. (Ray) Marshall-Gagon and Tara E. (Vic) Marshall-Palmer; 15 grandchildren; siblings, Nena Lee (Glen) Marshall-Carter, Eldiva Pearl (David) Marshall-Howick and Barbara Golightly-Stewart (sister-in-law, but more like a sister). He was preceded in death by his parents, James Ignatz Marshall and Ruth Noakes-Marshall.

A viewing in honor of Davy will be Thursday, April 18, 2024, 6-8 pm at the Family Funeral Care & Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park South Valley, 13001 South 3600 West, Riverton, UT 84065, open to all. The interment will be held at the Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, Utah. Services by invitation only.