David Charles Gallacci

January 13, 1947 - August 1, 2015

David Charles Gallacci was born to Charles and Solveig (Linnett) Gallacci in Portland, Oregon, on January 13, 1947. The family moved in 1948 to Port Angeles, where David lived the rest of his 68 years.

After graduation in 1965, David planned to enter the Navy, following in his father's footsteps, but was recruited by the local National Guard representative and spent six years serving in the Light Weapons Infantryman unit (11B20).

He was decorated for marksmanship, sharpshooter and expert.

David met and married the love of his life, Valerie Shamp, in 1971. They shared their life with daughter Charvaun, born in 1983. David was a tender-hearted and caring husband and father.

David worked as journeyman carpenter by trade, but his passion was being out in nature. His interests were greatly influenced by his favorite childhood book, Two Little Savages, given to him by his Uncle Marvin and Aunt Lena.

He spent countless hours as a young boy trekking through the woods armed with his trusty hatchet and a tree branch fishing pole. As he grew, he explored our local head waters and creek bottoms (Ennis, Peabody, Whites, Morse, Elwha, etc.) for hours and days on end.

David became an avid hunter, fisherman and true woodsman. He was also an artist, creating his travels on sketch pads and canvas.

He took pride in physical fitness and being an upstanding citizen. However, his body began to fail him as a very young man, and he struggled over the last 40 years with one health issue after another.

Ultimately, he was unable to pursue his life's passion: being out in nature.

He often reminisced about past hunting camps and especially time spent talking with "the old-timers." Their stories and history shared was thoroughly appreciated by David.

He often spoke fondly of time spent hunting grouse, deer and elk; fishing; and enjoying motorbike riding and hiking into the backcountry and driving all around the West End with his father, Uncle Angelo, nephew Shawn and many others.

Throughout the years of physical struggles, David kept his sense of humor and special wit, rarely letting his condition get the best of him.

He passed from this world into the arms of his maker and redeemer on August 1, 2015, after complications from blood-thinning medication.

He is a loss to us all and so very much missed.

David is survived by his wife, Valerie, and daughter, Charvaun (Robert) Hartman of Port Angeles; and immediate family: sister Susan (Neil) Ingram of Gillette, Wyoming; brother Peter Gallacci of Agnew; aunt Hazel Atkins of Springfield, South Dakota; his closest cousin, Eileen (Ted) Graves of Sequim; and a multitude of cousins, brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

Family and friends are invited to join in a celebration of David's life at their family home, 396 Freshwater Park, west of Port Angeles, on Saturday, September 19, 2015, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.