David Elmer Gawf

David Elmer Gawf passed away peacefully at home on January 11, 2026 after several years of living with MDS cancer. To the very end of his earthly life, David maintained his humor, kindness, faith, and love of family and friends.

Growing up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, David was the youngest of five children. He spent his childhood enjoying close relationships with his siblings and family, riding bikes around town, freely exploring nature, participating in marching band as a Sousaphone player, and working at several local businesses (starting at age 12). He was part of the first graduating class from Memorial High School (Tulsa, OK) in 1965. He attended Phillips University in 1966 before entering the U.S. Navy in September of 1966 during the Vietnam war.

During his military service, David was a Navy Corpsman stationed on Guam. In this role, he provided critical medical support as a surgical technician to Navy and Marine Corps members injured in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in October, 1970 at the San Francisco Treasure Island Naval Base.

After his military service, David went on to graduate as a Physicians Assistant from Oklahoma University in 1975 and earned his master's degree in counseling from Oregon College of Education in 1980. He moved to Salem, Oregon in 1976 and during his time in Salem he was the editor of the Community Services Guide newspaper, published weekly. He had a heart for serving youth and settled in Pendleton when he was hired as a counselor for Homestead Youth and Family Services from 1980-1983, a non-profit residential treatment program that supports male youth ages 14-20 who are at-risk or who are on probation or parole. He went on to become the Area Youth Coordinator for Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) for over a decade from 1983-1997, providing leadership and oversight of OYA's youth facilities and programs for youth across a vast Eastern Oregon territory. He believed all young people should have the opportunity to grow, develop and reach their full potential, making a positive and lasting impact on many young lives.

After leaving his mark and furthering improvements for youth in OYA programs, David took a leap of faith and embarked on a new career, leaning into his desire for life-long learning and growth. In the late 1990s, he began an independent business as a general contractor, which he continued into his 70s. He developed a new career in home repair and improvement, finding great satisfaction in self-employment, perfecting a new craft, and in delivering honest, high quality repair and remodel services to families across Pendleton. He gained many new friendships throughout his time as a general contractor among the network of home repair and improvement professionals.

Outside of work, David loved English Springer Spaniels (owning two over his life, Dog and Tiger), riding horses, dancing, sailing, playing and watching sports, listening to music old and new (from Gordon Lightfoot and John Denver to the Fleet Foxes and Adrianne Lenker), and playing guitar. He also loved telling a good "dad joke," hiking (including completing portions of the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail), and spending quality time with those he loved.

David always valued service and was an integral part of the community throughout his life. He was a boy scout troop leader in Oklahoma, served as a parent coach for girl's soccer for many years for Pendleton Youth Soccer Association, and was closely involved with outreach efforts through his faith community, Pendleton First Assembly of God. He served on the Board of Directors for the Cambodian Rural School Fund, which successfully raised money to build a school addition to benefit children in rural Cambodia and personally donated funds to dig a well to provide safe drinking water near the school. He also visited the school for three weeks and built relationships with the children and families there and helped unload the bricks for the school construction. He tirelessly supported his children, grandchildren, family members and friends through many highs and lows, celebrations and sorrows. Even as his health and physical energy declined, he made extraordinary efforts to stay connected and pour light and love into his children, grandchildren, family, and friends.

David is preceded in death by several family members who he deeply loved. Included among them are his father, Von Elmer Gawf, mother, Opal Katharine Gawf, baby sister Jayne Lou Gawf, brother Dan Gawf, and sister Jeanettea Foster.

He leaves many family members to carry forward his memory and loving spirit including: two daughters, Mandy Gawf (husband Mitchell Montchalin) and Rebekah Rivera (husband Joshua Rivera) and their mother Valerie Gawf; one son, Benjamin Morris (wife Erin Sonntag) and his mother Pamela Morris; one brother, Edward Gawf (wife Sue Gawf). He is also survived by his four grandchildren who adored spending time with Grandpa Dave including Sophia Morris (20), Elise Facciuto (12), River Rivera (3), and Joya Montchalin (2); three nephews, Mike Foster, Brian Gawf, and James Gawf; two nieces, Stephanie Coca and Jennifer Brauer and many great-nephews, great-nieces, and cousins, along with extended relatives and friends who were touched by his warm spirit, humor, and unforgettable presence.

David embodied a spirit of fellowship and made friends wherever he went, including with members at his church, his neighbors, staff at his favorite restaurants, and oncology staff and patients at the hospital. David expressed his gratitude for a life well lived, full of wonderful experiences as well as a loving family and many good friends. He lived a life of faith, embodying Hebrews 11:1- "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." We carry this faith forward in our belief that we will see him again.