David Lee Williams, 88

David (Dave) was born in Moscow, Idaho on Aug. 13, 1932, in the old Gritman Hospital where newborns were placed in the warming oven of a wood burning kitchen stove. His parents were Donald and Edith Williams of Moscow. He passed peacefully in Coeur d’Alene on May 22, 2021, at the age of 88 after a brief illness, with his wife and family by his side. He spent his entire childhood and youth in Moscow in the family home on Orchard Avenue. He was intelligent, quick witted, funny, articulate, creative and generous with his time to anyone in need. He liked nothing better than a spirited, friendly debate about philosophy or politics.

He began work at the age of 8 pulling weeds in the U of I Forestry Nursery and moved from there to paper routes and farm work. During high school he was excused the last period of every day to report to his job at the Moscow Bakery. With his earnings he was able to pay for his own clothes and school expenses. He graduated with honors from Moscow High School in 1950.

He entered the University of Idaho in 1950 with a pre-med major, having turned down an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis to follow his long-time dream of becoming a physician and surgeon. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med honor society. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1953 and was accepted into the Oregon Medical School (now Oregon Health Sciences) in Portland, Ore. from which he graduated in 1957. He interned at Milwaukee County Hospital and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He did his general surgery residency at Great Lakes Naval Hospital and an ENT residency at St. Albans Naval Hospital in Long Island, N.Y. He loved Navy sea duty as a ship’s doctor, and that love of the sea followed him the rest of his life. He retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain after 20 years of service.

In 1968 he entered private practice as an otolaryngologist specializing in head and neck surgery in Redding, Calif. He endeared himself to his patients and his staff with his good nature and good humor. He served a term as Chief of Surgery at Redding Mercy Medical Center and retired from practice in 1994.

In 1957 he married Judith Burdick of Portland, Ore. and together they raised a family of four children. When the children were grown, that marriage ended and David subsequently moved back to North Idaho and settled in Coeur d’Alene. In 1998 he married his elementary, junior high and high school classmate, Marilyn Bauer. Dave and Marilyn enjoyed 23 years of laughter and adventure, traveling to six of the seven continents and many times to Hawaii. They particularly liked small ship river tours in Europe on the Rhine, Danube and Rhone rivers, but Dave’s favorite trips were to Africa (Kenya and Egypt especially), Italy, China and Hawaii.

Leisure time was spent in the garden. He was a master bonsai grower, at one time tending a collection of over 75 plants. He created a beautiful, serene Japanese-style landscape at his home in Coeur d’Alene, building a Japanese curved bridge and gate, a raked sand garden and did bonsai pruning on numerous full-grown shrubs to complete the effect. He was an avid reader – always with four or five books in progress at the same time. He loved going to symphonies, stage plays and art museums. He never stopped learning new things.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Lyndall Williams.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn in Coeur d’Alene, his four children: Elisa Williams in Alameda, Calif., Todd Williams in Encinitas, Calif., Denice Williams (Brian Thompson) and Alison Colman (Laurence Colman) in Portland, Ore. He leaves behind four grandchildren: Woody, Sydney, Olive and Isaac. He will be greatly missed by his three step-children: Jeanne Wahlstrom in Layton, Utah, Nancy Taylor in West Gardiner, Maine, and Charlotte Stuyvenberg in Gig Harbor, Wash. He also leaves his brother Larry Williams (Mardell) in Grangeville, Idaho, nephews Mike Williams (Lynn) and Gary Williams (Toni) and a niece, Margie Ruskovch (Mike) and their families. Family meant the world to Dave, and for those of us who were lucky enough to be part of this wonderful man’s life, ours just won’t be the same without his love and ever present puns, always delivered with a grin and a twinkle in his eyes.

At Dave’s request a traditional service will not take place. His family and close friends will hold a celebration of his life at a later date.

Sleep well my love. I'll see you in the morning.