David Wayne Garris Jr. January 24, 1967 - November 26, 2010 Viewing is Thursday, Dec. 2, from 5-8 p.m., at Kern River Mortuary, 1900 N. Chester Ave., with a memorial service on Friday, Dec. 3, at 3:00 p.m. David was a loving husband, father, son and brother. He met his wife Rhonda in 1995, together they raised her four children, Deann, Shaun, JayJay and Ashley and then had their 9 grandchildren. David was a source of pride for his parents, David and Cookie Garris. He was loved by all that knew him. He passed away after battling a long illness. He was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Mary and Myrtle. We gain strength in knowing they are together again. David is survived by his parents, wife, children, grandchildren, brother James, sister Sherry, Aunt Marsha, numerous nieces and nephews and his special buddy Uncle Mike. He will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. www.bakersfield.com/obits

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Published by Bakersfield Californian on Dec. 1, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for David Garris

285 Entries

Janet Parker

November 26, 2022

Well Happy birthday dear cousin. I'm sure you are singing and dancing this year because your momma has come to be by your side in heaven. We sure will miss aunt Cookie but we know she is safe in your arms now. We miss you both so much. Love forever and always, your cousin Janet

cookie garris

December 21, 2013

Well Davie it's been over 3 years now your site is due to run out in Jan. so I won't be able to talk to you on here but I want you too know how much this site has helped me I feel like I'm sitting here talking to you and I have gotten so much peace and comfort from it I always feel so close to you when I'm on here there have been times I don't know what I would have done without it I have your book but it's still so hard to look at it. Even tho I'm not writing to you, you are always on my mind and in my heart I will never say goodbye to you for we will be seeing each other again just know when I lost you my entire outlook on life changed and I will always love and miss you and your dad will also you know how hard it is for him to express his feelings but he always loved you see you soon my son be watching for us

mom and dad garris

November 26, 2013

Well Davie It's been 3 years now since you left us and it still hurts so bad I think about you everyday some good memories and some very sad ones but you are always in our thoughts It doesn't get much easier with time but I take comfort in knowing you are looking down on us I have so much to tell you when we meet again I love you sweetie

cookie garris

May 28, 2013

Hi Davie it's mom we went to dinner at the greenhorn grill for our anniverseary dad and i were remembering all the times we took you kids there to snowboard and camp remember the picture we took of you standing in that hollowed out tree all i had to do was close my eyes and I could see you running all over the camp site so happy and carefree i read Ashleys post and it brought back so many memories for us to I'm so glad you did all the same things with your family and she has good memories to hold on to theres not a day goes by that someone doesn't recalls something you said or did you left a hole in our lifes that can never be filled we love and miss you so very much but knowing we'll see each other soon keeps us going we went to cedar creek a few weeks ago and you should see how big your tree is now love ya mom

Ashley Mclelland

May 21, 2013

Its getting warmer, that means camping time. I want to take the kids to Cedar Creek and let them have the same experience that you gave us kids growing up. Its gonna be hard cuz ive never done it without you. Its weird all the things i took for granted growing up. I miss you so much. Im glad that whenever we do choose to camp again that im able to walk down and talk to you. Thank you for giving me amazing childhood memories that i will always cherish. You were the best dad a kid could ever ask for. I love and miss you so much dad.

cookie garris

March 21, 2013

Hi Davie it's mom I was just trying to read your memory book but had to put it away the pain is still to deep maybe someday I can look at it and only feel comforted but not yet.Life goes on here for all of us but that doesn't mean we don't still miss you and think of your everyday Iv'e been thinking about the last time I seen you and you tryed to talk to me about feeling like you were dying i'm so sorry i didn't listen to what you wanted to say I just kept saying don't talk that way you'll be fine but you knew inside your time was short I couldn't bear the thought of that so I closed it out Im so very sorry yesterday was Matts birthday hes 27 now we are getting up there to so it shouldn't be to long before we join you please be watching for us love and miss you more everyday mom and dad

Ashley Mclelland

January 25, 2013

I miss you so much Dad. Its still hard on me every single day. We talk about you to the babies constantly. I know you would of absolutely loved taking Landon everywhere. You wanted a grandson so bad. I love you Dad.

Mom and Dad Garris

January 24, 2013

Happy Birthday Davie oh how we wish you were here to celebrate it with us everytime someone has a birthday party and we sing the birthday song we think about you how you uses to make those funny noises.Morgan is having her party today instead of the 26th so its for sure you will be on our mind all day your brother and sister speak of you so often and little Matty looks more like you everyday and reminds me of you in a lot of ways.I love you Mom

cookie garris

January 19, 2013

Well Davie its another year now 2013 you have been gone over 2 years but it seems like only yesterday.I miss you so much even now as I write this i'm looking at your picture in Laughlin where your sitting at the slot machine with a big grin on your face thats how I like to remember you happy and carefree hopefully we will see you in Heaven tell Mom hi and we love her to you were a good son and we are proud of you love always mom and Dad

mom and da garris

December 16, 2012

Well Davie it's almost Christmas again and I keep thinking about you all the time this year the family is going all out with decorating in your honor I wish you could see your grandkids faces when they open their presents I dont know who enjoyed it more you or them your legacy site is due to expire in Jan.but im going to extend it another year Im not ready to give it up yet I love coming here and talking to you it really helps me and I know it's good for Ashley also I feel so proud when she says what a fine young man you were and how much they love and miss you.Your love for Christmas will always be with us Dad and I went to cedar Creek and picked out a rock from the creek he painted your name on it and sprayed it with lacquer and now we have it in our flower bed a small part of you we also have a picture of you in every room so no matter where we go we can always see you I love you son

Ashley Mclelland

December 8, 2012

Since you've passed 2 more very important men in my moms life has passed also. My father and my moms dad. We know you watch over us and comfort us every time we get sad. The holidays are still hard on us all. We miss your amazing smile on Christmas Eve. I love and miss you so much Dad.

Ashley Mclelland

November 27, 2012

My heart still hurts every day. I miss you so much dad. Its still hard to believe you're gone but i know you're watching over us all. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful person to us. I love you dad.

November 25, 2012

Hi Davie well Thanksgiving is finally over I dread that day we had all the kids over it was nice but would have been perfect if you were here Tomorrow it will be 2 years since you left us we all miss you so much there is a small part of us missing that only you can fill .As much as I love and miss you I'm beginning to understand why God took you I know you would not have wanted to live in all that pain and being unable to live your life the way you wanted but it still hurts I wish I could have said goodbye to you I hope you knew how much you meant to me and your dad you'll always be my lttle Davie I love you son

Ashley Mclelland

November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving Dad. Its still hard to believe you're not here. The mashed potatoes just don't taste the same anymore. I love you so much. Every year just keeps getting harder and harder. Please watch over my babies, they really need you right now. Love you.

Aunt Marsha

November 21, 2012

Hi Davie,
I wanted to tell you that I miss you so much. I think about you all the time.

And now November is upon us again. And it makes me think about you even more.Thankgiving is here and I wish you were here with us all.I though it would get easier as time flies bye,but it hasn't.

Just know I love and miss you. Aunt Marsha

Ashley Mclelland

October 5, 2012

Hey Dad, Just want to tell you how much I love and miss you. Disneyland just wasn't the same without you. I now realize how organized you really were with our trips. I keep reading this saying that says " If you stay in denial that someone is gone, you will never be able to move on". It seems good in theory but its still hard to accept that I will never get to have those amazing conversations with you again. I think about you all the time. Wondering if you approve my decisions in life. It sucks that I no longer have a father figure in my life anymore. You meant and still mean the whole world to me. I love you so much Dad.

cookie garris

September 23, 2012

Davie its mom just wanted to say i love and miss you I have been having a rought time so I went to see a counselor it helped a little now i'm going to start attending grief sessions maybe it will help to talk to other people who have lost a child i sure hope so I just found out Tim passed away Ashley if you read this please tell the family how sorry I am it must be so hard on you losing them both so close together you are all in my thoughts and prayers Davie I guess you know we almost lost Matt a few weeks ago he had 3 grand mal seizures and was in the hospital for 4 days I know you were watching over him dad and Matt are watching the raiders game today everyone speaks of you often you are always on our minds till we see each other again I LOVE YOU

sherry garris

September 23, 2012

hey dave, just cant seem to get you of my mind today...i woke up thinking of you so im guessing i must of dreamt of you last night i wish i could remember if i had...but anyway i sure do miss you and wish i was able to call you. But having you on my mind will have to work for now..just wanted to tell you i love you and miss you so very much and to let you know that you are forever in my heart and always on my mind. we went to jamess yesterday for his bday and sure do wish you could have been there with us all.well i guess thats it for now.love you brother

Ashley Mclelland

September 13, 2012

Im about to take the babies to Disneyland for the first time. Im sure were gonna think about you the whole day. You turned into a 12 year old boy everytime we went. I want to thank you for being so amazing. You made my childhood into an amazing one. I stil remember our first time going. I wouldnt shut up on the car ride and you kept telling me how annoying my voice was and that I was staying in the car while you guys played all day. Even back then I knew to never take your teasing seriously. Today Taylor came up to me and said "Papa David says he misses you". Freaked me out. I dont know if you told her that yourself, or she just knows in her heart thats how you feel, but its nice to hear that you miss me just as much as I miss you. I love you Dad.

Aunt Marsha

September 12, 2012

Hi Davie,
I just wanted to tell you, that both of you did a great job raising Ashley.She has turned out to be a loving & caring young lady.She truly loves & misses you.I know your proud of her.
love Aunt Marsha

Ashley Mclelland

September 11, 2012

I miss you sooo much. I HATE the fact that my kids will never really get to know you. I know both you and my other dad are up there making jokes and pulling pranks up there. I love you dad.

cookie garris

August 19, 2012

Davie it's mom again just sitting here thinking about you I miss you more everyday.It seems like ever where we look there's a reminder of you.we went to see the old house yesterday you would like what dewayne and sara have done to it it looks so nice their taking good care of it but when we go by there i srill expect you to walk out to greet us.It really doesn't get easier with time for me it gets worse I can't wait until God calls me home to be with you again i love you son

Ashley Mclelland

June 17, 2012

Happy Fathers Day, Dad. I love and miss you sooo much!

Aunt Marsha

June 11, 2012

Hi Davie, I just finished reading your guest book that Sherry was kind enough to share with me. It's still hard to read without crying.But, I have enjoyed all the wonderful pictures your mom has put into this album.You would be very impressed at all the hard work she has done to make it so beautiful. Love you Davie.

mom

June 7, 2012

Hey honey it's mom I finally got you book printed up it came out so good I got one for Jamie and Sherry too Jamie put his on top of your sterio he has a shrine there with your book and pictures on it. we miss you every single day we had a b-day party for marshas 60 th and released 26 balloons in honor of grandma thats how long shes been gone We saw Shaun at the store he is doing really good well your old neighbors are living in your house now and they love it but you already know that don't you? the days are getting easier to get threw now but sometimes I just break down and get weepy all day.I'm just so thankful for all the memories we have.I love you Davie even tho your gone you'll live in my heart forever

Ashley Mclelland

May 31, 2012

Hey Dad, I just want to tell you how much I love and miss you. Sometimes I wish I could just go out into the garage and talk to you while you work. Back then those talks seemed so meaningless, but now I look back and see how much you really taught me. You taught me not to take life so serious, even though you worried more than anybody else. That night that you came and rescued me is when I finally realized how much you really loved and cared for me. You will always be my hero! Im comforted knowing that you are forever watching over me and my kids. I love you Dad.

cookie garris

March 22, 2012

Hi Davie it's mom again just thinking about you and missing you i'm still working on your book it's taking a while sometimes I can only work for so long and then I get to emotional all the family still feels the pain of your passing Rhonda gave Jamie your sterio and speakers he's so proud of that everytime they rock out they think of you I always feel better when I come here to talk to you I hope you know how much we all loved you until we meet again love mom and dad

mom

February 10, 2012

Well Davie I finally got my new computer but still trying to figure it out I guess i'll start on your book tomorrow I miss not having you to call everytime I have a problem with computer stuff even tho I know you used to get frustrated with me Davie we all miss you so much but this memorial page has helped me threw it I feel like i"m really talking to you I will love you forever and a day Be watching for me and dad when i'ts our time we'll all be together again we love you son

February 10, 2012

Janet Parker

January 25, 2012

Happy Birthday Cuzz,You are so Loved and Missed by your Family & Friends. Love the way your Mom shares all your photos of you growing up.Remembering thoses day makes my heart happy.Rest in Peace beside the creek,where so many memories where made by all.Love you big guy. Cousin Janet

Ashley Mclelland

January 24, 2012

We went and visited you at the creek today. Taylor kept saying Happy Birthday Papa to the water. It was freezing up there but Im sure you would of loved it that way. If you were still here you would probably be celebrating your birthday playing poker with the ones you loved the most. We love and miss you like crazy. Happy Birthday Dad.

mom

January 24, 2012

Happy Birthday Davie this the second one since you passed I wish you were here with us remember how you always ended the birthday song with a crazy little shout everyone thinks about that whenever we have a birthday party I'll be thinking about you all day on your special day and I know Sherry will also be remembering all the birthdays you guys shared.My heart won't be whole again until I see you I'll forever love and miss you R.I.P mom and dad

Ashley Mclelland

January 24, 2012

Happy Birthday Dad. We love and miss you so much!

January 22, 2012

January 21, 2012

mom

January 20, 2012

Davie just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes I'm still working on your memory book but having a hard time deciding witch photos to use I would like to put them all in but I know thats not possible I miss you so much it hurts I still cry everytime I get on this site I'm trying to keep the faith but I can't help asking why you? i'm trying to put on a brave face but sometimes I feel like curling up and dying too.okay enough of that we'll see each other again tell mom hi for me also Aunt Norma it's her birthday today I love you son