David (Dave) Michael Stockton, 70, of Bartlett, TN, passed peacefully in his home on October 13 after a long journey with cancer. He was born May 10, 1954 in Pensacola, Florida, the son of Alma Louise (Porter) Stockton and Horace Homer Stockton of Jackson, TN. In addition to his parents, Dave was predeceased by his brother Tony, his sister-in-law Diane, and his granddaughter, Quinn Marie.
In 1972 Dave graduated from Jackson Central Merry High School in Jackson, TN where he was an outstanding trombone and tuba player. He received a B.S. in Music Education from the University of Tennessee in Martin in 1978 and was a high school band director in Lake County, TN for several years. In 1988 Dave received a B.S. in Applied Organizational Management from Tusculum College and in 1998 an Associate’s Degree in IT from State Technical Institute in Memphis. He worked at AutoZone for 30 years and held a variety of positions before retiring as a Senior Loss Prevention Analyst.
Dave met his wife, Linda Gibson, through a Memphis dating service in 1988, and they were married a year later. That same year they moved from Memphis to Bartlett, TN where they raised their daughter, Mairi. Surviving in addition to his wife Linda is his daughter Mairi (Chris) Reppy and grandson Miles of Bartlett, TN, brother Joe Stockton of Jackson, TN, sister-in-law Katy Stockton of Arlington, TN, and sister Teresa (Chris Doyle) Irvine of Medina, TN. He is also survived by his stepfather Tony Collins of Jackson, TN as well as by several nephews, nieces, great nephews and a great niece.
Dave was a WWII history buff and collected and watched every film he could find. He spent hours throughout the years building plane and more recently tank models which fill the shelves of one entire wall in his office.
Dave’s great joy through the years was riding motorcycles. This love and fascination began as a preschooler when he rode on the back of a Harley behind his father who was stationed in Hawaii. From the age of 16 through his death, Dave always owned at least one motorcycle. Dave ended up owning a total of 39 bikes throughout the years. He rode all over the U.S. with sport-bike friends from the Mid-South Sport Riders and long-distance touring buddies from the Memphis Harley Owners’ Group (where he served as Head Road Captain), as well as with his wife. He greatly enjoyed planning out his different trips and spending time riding with his wife and friends.
A service of remembrance and celebration will be held on Saturday, November 9 at the Memphis Funeral Home, 3700 N. Germantown Pkwy. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm, followed by the service at 2:00pm and then a reception. Riders are encouraged to wear their leathers. Those who wish to remember Dave in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the ML4 Foundation or the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences, floral tributes and directions may be found through www.memphisfuneralhome.net
