Gustavo Antonio Tavera-Davila

Gustavo Antonio Tavera-Davila passed away on February 16, 2018, at age 87 in Arroyo Grande, California. Gustavo was born on November 10, 1930, in Bogota, Colombia to Josue Tavera and Paulina Davila de Tavera. After graduating from Liceo de Cervantes High School in 1950, Gustavo traveled to Pickering College in Ontario, Canada to study English. Gustavo then studied Civil Engineering at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan where he met his bride-to-be, Maria Ines Murcia. Gustavo courted Maria Ines over a two-year period even after she had returned to Honduras. Gustavo moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he attended LSU to further his studies in Civil Engineering. In 1957 he started working for the Louisiana Department of Highways. After flying to Honduras to ask for Maria's hand in marriage to her father, upon their return, they married on December 9, 1958 at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Baton Rouge. After many years of living and raising their family in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Gustavo and Maria Ines proudly became Citizens of the United States. Gus as he was known by his co-workers in the Bridge Design unit of the Louisiana Department of Highways retired in 1990 after 30 years of service. Gustavo loved Baton Rouge and enjoyed having friends and family over to the house. One of his favorite past-times was working in the yard of his treasured home. Gustavo is preceded in death by his parents, his three sisters, Beatriz, Cecilia, Leonor, and brother Herman Tavera. He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Maria Ines Tavera; his wonderful children, Eduardo Tavera (Jami, wife), and Paulina Tavera-Lear; his grandchildren Jaclyn Tavera (Greene), Kevin Tavera, Andrew Tavera, Emily Tavera, and Matthew Tavera-Lear; and ten beautiful great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the Perkins Road Albertson's pharmacy staff for their special caring (Ken, Stephanie, Candace, and Jarred), Karri Martinez for her physical therapy treatments provided to Gustavo during the past year that enhanced his quality of life, and everyone who touched our lives. We also want to thank Ronna Harr Roberts R.N. from Central Coast Hospice and Jami Linneman (Tavera) R.N. who took such wonderful care of her father-in-law, enabling him to pass away peacefully at home with his family by his side. At the request of Gustavo, there will be no formal funeral arrangements. A Celebration of his life is planned for July 14, 2018 in California at the home of Ed and Jami Tavera. For more information contact GustavoCelebration@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital. We are going to miss Gustavo's playful sense of humor, his "MacGyver" abilities to fix everything, and his big heart.