David West

David West, 57, died April 27, 2010, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

His family wrote, "David fell into his final sleep after a long battle with kidney failure.

He was surrounded by family and loved ones in his final hours."

A memorial service in David's memory will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at his brother Brad's home. Call 748-4807 for details.

He was born Feb. 10, 1953, in Concord, Calif.

In Dave's 57 years on earth, he was the embodiment of humility and generosity. While David did not have much in the way of worldly possessions, he was generous with what he did have and possessed many fine qualities that far surpassed anything material. He chose to see the best in people, giving his friends and employees help whenever needed.

Until he became ill, he owned and operated Eagle Street Auto, based on his gift for all things mechanical. He could take anything apart and put it back together again, a gift he demonstrated time and again as a child.

David enjoyed drinking coffee and talking with friends, watching movies and collecting robotics.

Dave was a shy person, preferring never to be in the spotlight. He did love to laugh, especially with his brother and sister. Dave loved eating his sister's homemade turkey dinners with homemade apple pie and treasured going out to lunch with family.

Although Dave will be missed tremendously, there is comfort knowing he is no longer in pain and is now resting.

Dave was preceded in death by the person dearest to his heart, his mother, Betty West.

He is survived by his father, Robert West; sister, Rhonda; brother-in-law, Stan Gallagher; brother, Brad West; sister-in-law, Renee; double-cousin, Candi Amrine and husband Paul; nephew, Matt Gallagher and wife Monica; niece, Roxanne Oldani, husband Scott, their son River; niece, Lily West, her daughter, Luna; niece, Aubrey Henderson, her husband Shea, their son Kaden; and many family members in Washington state; his friend, Marty Slayton; and girlfriend, Julie Harris, who was such a comfort to him during his illness. He will be dearly missed by all.