David DeVries

David DeVries, 70, passed away April 22, 2015, at Prestige Care in Anchorage.

David was born on June 16, 1944, in Glendive, Montana, to John and Jessie DeVries. He later moved to Alaska with his family to Palmer in 1945 and graduated from Palmer High School in 1962. He then continued his education through National Tech School in California, finishing in 1964.

David married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Leek, on June 1, 1962. After finishing tech school, they briefly lived in Anchorage before buying property in Eagle River in 1967, where he stayed until his passing.

David worked for the state of Alaska’s Department of Highway from 1964-1974, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline from 1975-77, the Municipality of Anchorage for five years, and then opened his own auto shop in Eagle River. He was a member of the AMMC for many years in the ’70s. Always willing to help his neighbors, he enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, but most of all, always having a project to fix in his shop. In his younger years, he loved racing snowmachines and working on racecars.

“Dad was the most compassionate person we knew, with a sly sense of humor and a kind heart. He was a great guy and will be missed.”

He is survived by his mother, Jessie DeVries; daughter Jennie (Wade) Wyatt; sister Marie (Roy) Keen; brothers John (Marilyn) DeVries, and Andrew (Dawn) DeVries; sister-in-law Jackie Leek; son-in-law Rocky Morin; grandchildren Rachel, Tony and Nicole Morin, John and Christian DeVries, and Ty Wyatt; great grandchildren Hayden Morin, Taylor and Dylan Mead, Alfred Mead JR. III.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Morin; wife, Cheryl DeVries; and father, John DeVries Sr.

The Memorial Service will take place at United Protestant Presbyterian Church of Palmer at 2 p.m., May 21.