David Wayne Egger

Spokane - David passed away with family surrounding him on July 14, 2023, far too soon for all of us who knew and loved him. He was born in Portland, Oregon, on April 25, 1958, to H. Patrick and Roila L. (Jones) Egger. After his father completed the U of O Dental School (now OHSU), the family moved to Eugene in 1961, and David spent the rest of his childhood there.

David was introduced to the Boy Scouts of America early on and continued that practice with his sons. During his teenage years, he also developed an interest in gymnastics and competed on his high-school gymnastics team. After graduating from South Eugene High School in 1976, he attended the U of O in Eugene and also worked for the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics during those years, establishing life-long friendships with students and their families. He completed his under-graduate degree at the U of O in 1987 and then in 1992, he began medical school at OHSU, in Portland Oregon. Upon graduating from there in 1996 he moved on to Loma Linda University Medical Center for his pediatric residency and a neonatal-perinatal fellowship.

He married Rebecca Mekus in 2003 and the family settled in Spokane, Washington where he practiced as a Neonatologist, became involved in several organizations including his church, Life Center. Although David's work was ever-present in his family's lives, they also spent time fishing, going to the beach, enjoyed time at their cabin on the lake, traveling and visiting with family.

After his divorce in 2019, David continued interacting with his sons, family, friends and his practice and like all of us, dealt with Covid issues. Early in 2022, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He opted to undergo a bone marrow transplant, using his own bone marrow. The lengthy treatment took him to Seattle's Fred Hutchinson House in September of 2022, and he returned to Spokane in late February 2023. The family is thankful for friend Rebekah Waterbury and David's brother-in-law, Michael Cantrell, whose extraordinary care and loving friendship made David's journey with Multiple Myeloma less difficult.

David is survived by sons Garrett and Bruce Egger, stepson Cody Mekus (Jenna) and family, sisters Carolyn Cantrell (Michael) and Linda Blankenship (Russel), stepsister Erica Daley, stepbrothers Donald Boston and Robert Baty, stepmother Ronnie Egger, sister-in-law Jerrilyn Egger, and aunts Sharon Heston and Mary Egger in addition to numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Steven Egger.

His service will be August 17, 2023, at 3pm at the Life Center in Spokane, Washington. Life Center's address is, 1202 N Government Way, Spokane, WA 99224. In lieu of flowers, you may contribute to Life Center Church or a favorite charity of your own in his memory.