David Ray Witter

        A bright light faded out Wednesday March 19th, 2025. David passed in the comfort of the home he cherished, surrounded by family. He had experienced declining health for years before a terminal cancer diagnosis a week prior. He lived his life on his terms, so it comes as no surprise that he followed that same pattern until the end. A glimpse into who he was as a man, husband, father, papa, brother and uncle is trivial unless you were given the opportunity to know him. Everyone was better off having experienced who he was, this will give little justice.

      He was born March 27th, 1959. To Clyde and Mildred Witter. It was his parents who were the foundation of the amazing man he was to become. His father knew when to show leniency, how to be steadfast, a strong work ethic, and how to extract the most humor and fun out of every situation. His mother showed him the importance of family and to stick to your values no matter the cost. Both of his parents showed him the importance of working with his hands. His parents took great pride in gardening, harvesting, woodworking, mechanical work and home improvements. He carried all these traits with him into his own life and also modeled these for future generations.

      David grew up in a more rural Layton than what we know it as today. His youth was filled with great friends, boredom, and questionable decisions of a teenage boy. He wasn't a scholar or terribly gifted in academics, but he was gifted in athletics. Basketball was the sport he enjoyed to play he had the stature, the skill, and the curly hair which made all his pictures iconic of the 70's. He was a chameleon that could fit in with the jocks or any high school cliche for that matter. However, you'd most likely find him in the parking lot with others who had that natural rebellious streak. He was always surrounded by good music and friends dreaming of better days to come that only the freedom of adulthood could grant them. He was raised to follow the straight and narrow. His mother did the best she could to ensure this while his father showed him grace to explore who he truly was. He would always find his own path to blaze. The trait of not being afraid to go against the grain made him a more genuine person. He had strong morals and values, but he was not to be caged no matter how hard you tried. Whether that was rules, the social norms, or how he was expected to live his life. The more conformity was forced the more he sought freedom. He was wild at heart and even with that he still was a productive member of society and embarking on a career that suited him. David operated in the grey, neither black nor white. You can't have black and white without the other. His entire life was a perfect mixture of this.

      He found a passion for woodworking and would come back to this profession many times in his life. His mind was incredible when it came to envisioning projects strictly off what a customer had in mind, what they liked, and what they disliked. He could envision exactly what would work best for them with little brainstorming. What his quick sketch of dimensions looked like gave no justice to the elaborate project he had locked into his mind. Only with his hands could he bring the wood to life. His finished creations brought him so much pride. A piece of him lives on through his own home's DIY projects but many more in elegant homes throughout Northern Utah. This skill also translated over into vehicles, motorcycles, home improvements, and home decor. His ideas always came instantaneously and knew exactly what he wanted. Nothing was ever complete until it matched what he envisioned. He would go to great lengths to accomplish this. David spent a lot of time thinking, planning, and executing his ideas. He also took a lot of pride in his vehicles, starting at a young age. Each was bestowed a name and a specific spa day. Everyone knew quarters weren't spare change that was car wash vacuum money. He passed down how to fully detail a car long before passing down how to actually operate one. No spot was neglected or looked over. It was an event all in itself. He taught us the value of your car and how to care for it correctly inside and out. His attention to detail, creativity, and imagination will remain unmatched.

      He was young at heart no matter his age. He knew how to have fun and could effortlessly coax his inner child out to play. He engaged in playing ball in the yard with his children and even grandchildren later. He would put himself on a skateboard and scooters without a second thought even though he might hurt in the morning. He was always in the know with new toys, technology, and ways to listen to music. No expense was spared for holidays and our reactions were truly what made it worthwhile for him. He seemed more excited about holidays than his children. He was always willing to try out new games, new toys, listen to new music, and learn new gaming systems. Sometimes he'd get so excited that your birthday present would be given early. Yes, he would ask if you wanted it earlier but what child would say no? Not only did his children have memory cards for their game progress on the PlayStation but he too had one. The weekdays were for individual progress while the weekends were for family gaming. He enjoyed playing CTR racing with the family and 1v1 on Need For Speed Underground. That entire game series alone cost him a lot of money. Not in the sense you would assume but in the sense that he was going to eventually win against his daughter and without a cash bet it was a little less entertaining. He may have been a bit of a gambler looking back at it. However, he had a blast, and someone made a lot more than $10 a week in chore money. This inner child also happened to be a master prankster. No cracked door was complete without a cup of water perched on it waiting for someone to barge through it and ultimately be showered with water. Every unattended soda can was fair game and generally got one hole if you were lucky pierced below where your lip met the can. Leaving you to wonder if maybe your lip had a hold in it nevertheless soda was already running down your neck and onto your shirt. No silent activity could be completed in peace, it was always met with a loud 'BANG' on the wall or the door. It would make you jump out of your skin. You would wonder out to see him sitting in his spot like nothing happened or going about his daily business like you were the crazy one. Every corner you rounded was met with uncertainty wondering if he was lurking behind it waiting to yell 'AHHHH' to see how high you jumped or how many things you dropped. He was always so pleased with himself, and the reactions were all he was after. No one was excluded from these activities, and everyone was fair game no matter the age.

      David's father introduced him to the pranking and sarcasm. He happened to run wild with both of them. He was witty and had a barely functional filter from what entered his brain and came out of his mouth. The lack of filter and his wit led to many gasps but mostly pain in the rib cage from struggling to breathe due to laughter. Once he was on a roll it was like a freight train with no intent to stop. Many family gatherings resulted in everyone walking off in other directions to catch their breath. Marshmallows weren't the only thing being roasted around the fire. Good luck to whoever was the topic of said roast however we all had thick skin by now and no harm was done. You did however have to calculate your next few sentences in hopes you didn't set yourself up for another round. Majority of the time someone set themselves up for an easy tease. Sometimes it was just the way he ranted about something, with his hilarious use of words, and usually arms flailing like a game of charades. He had very little patience, so it was usually his latest public outing that riled him up, giving him great material to entertain us with. Everything drove him nuts but he also found such humor in everything. Although, what he lacked in patience was replaced with massive amounts of forgiveness.

      He was a stubborn man with views and values he heavily protected. There we're many times we've all found ourselves on the opposing side of his views or values. Especially if he happened to raise you because he instilled in us to be just as protective of what we believed in and to be steadfast in our stances. No matter the circumstances that lead us to butt heads or not see eye to eye on with enough time mutual forgiveness would be extended. He forgave with sincerity and good intentions. May have had the same opposing viewpoints but we knew sometimes we had to keep it to ourselves because harmony was far more valuable than being right. He was a man of his word so there were no ill feelings left or awkward interactions after apologies. He was very blunt with how he felt and you would know it without all the sugar coating that was a lot easier to digest. His love for everyone of his family members was the entire reason for bashing heads. He wanted the absolute best for all of this and that was especially true for his daughters. He wanted each one to enjoy a life that we truly were passionate about even if it was mediocre. He wanted the people around us to love and care for us the same way he did. He took the no one is good enough for his daughters very literal but also welcomed spouses and significant others with open arms. He wanted his children to have the type of marriage he shared with Crickett for 26 years. He made it seem so effortless and truly it was. He always went out of his way to make sure she knew she was loved and the little things he did was how he cared for her through sickness and in health. They were a team no matter what percentage each person was giving. There were no ill feelings when one wasn't able to give what they normally did and vice versa. They truly embodied the love is patient and love is kind quote. David was an attentive, proactive, appreciative, understanding, nurturing, protective, and most importantly an unwavering husband. They went through many ups and downs in those 26 years. Even up until the end he was more worried about Crickett and what she was going to go through. He loved with his entire heart, and you never had to question how he felt about his family whether that was biological, step, married in, or adopted due to how long you've been around. He was a great role model for everyone around him and a strong support system.

      He spent his last few years enjoying his family as they trickled in one by one as everyone’s lives became more hectic and centered around their own growing family and newly acquired adult responsibilities. He still enjoyed yard work even if he did need a helping hand. He still took amazing care of his vehicles even though the quarters became not only car wash vacuum money but also actual car wash money. He didn't have the strength to do the manual detailing of the car in the front yard but you could hardly tell the difference. One thing that didn't change was his love of being engulfed in music. He was found in the backyard on the nice days sitting in his chair, music blasting, and staring up at the sky or mountains. He became a bit like a lizard moving from one sunny spot to another in hopes of warming up. Every event in his life goes hand in hand with music. A glimpse into his mood could be obtained by his music selection. He was also known to speak to you by sending a song that reminded him of you or if it had a particular meaning. He was a man of many emotions but not the best at expressing them. He found a way to let us peak in even if it was for just a few moments. He instilled a beautiful connection between music and family. He was great at giving you that little pick me up that you needed with a song or a steady reminder that you are on his mind at that particular time.

      David had the ability to tailor himself to be exactly what each individual needed at the moments of their interaction. He wore many hats ... A teacher, a father figure, a therapist, a comedian, a confidant, a mentor, a listener, a protector, an ally, a judge, an advocate, a savior, an analyst, and most importantly always a friend. Each relationship was a unique as the people who gravitated to him. Without a doubt no matter whose perspective you use to reflect on David's life each one would describe him as a great man who will be terribly missed. He will forever be ingrained in our futures. No matter what you received from your relationship he gave it to you with all of his being and his heart.

      David was proceeded in death by his parents Clyde and Mildred Witter and sister-in-law Debbie Witter. He is survived by his brother Larry (Tina) Witter, his wife Christine Witter, daughters Autumn Clancy, Ashley Witter, Kayla Owens, and McKenzie Schryver, 11 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 

           A celebration of life will be held at a later time that will be announced as the family grieves the sudden passing of a wonderful soul.