David Baxter Shellgren passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at the Lone Tree Convalescent Center in Antioch, Calif. at age 93.

A lifetime resident of Aberdeen, Wash., David was born the third of four boys to Irma and Arthur Shellgren. He attended McDermoth Elementary School, Miller Junior High School, J.M. Weatherwax High School and Grays Harbor Community College. During WWII, David carried the rank of Seaman 1st Class, SV 6 in the Navy from September 1943 to 1946 serving aboard the merchant marine ship SS Weir Cook and flag ship carrier USS Bunker Hill CV-17. While on active duty in the Pacific, he received the Asiatic — Pacific Area Campaign Medal — two stars, World War II Victory Medal and Purple Heart.

After the war, David married his college sweetheart Marietta Shellgren (Holt) in 1951 and they had three children together. While working full time and raising a family, he built his own home in North Aberdeen with some land deeded by his in-laws. He built the home by hand using rudimentary tools by today’s standards. In his spare time, he found hobbies doodling cartoon artwork and taking the kids for hikes both locally and around the Pacific Northwest. He worked as a salesman for Fosters and then Grays Harbor Equipment Company retiring in 1995. After retirement, David and Marietta traveled throughout the entire United States with their motor home and then later cruised to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean.

David is survived by son Gary, son Bob and his wife Carri, and her mother Fran Moe, daughter Susan and husband Wayne, plus numerous grandchildren: Becki and husband Greg, Matt and wife Stephanie, Brian, Dorothy, Amanda and fiancée Devon and great-granddaughter MacKenna. He is also survived by many cousins, nephews, nieces and great-nephews and great-nieces on both sides of the family.

In his youth, he loved painting and hiking with his children and especially enjoyed the Olympic National Park and Peninsula, having very fond memories of the “Enchanted Valley” area and Mount Olympus. David loved the outdoors and had a true appreciation for the flora and fauna of our National Parks. He loved to describe the early days of logging when lumber was transported by oxen and later by steam engine and also recounted many stories of World War II and his time in the Navy. Later, he enjoyed collecting and watching old movies, eating his favorite apple pie and ice cream and especially having family gatherings at Bob and Sue’s homes.

Although he will not be with us here on earth, he is now with the Lord, where he will be reunited with his beloved wife. He was honest, inclusive and hardworking. He will be missed greatly by those who loved him.

There will be a graveside service and military send off at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen on Friday, June 22, beginning at 2 p.m. followed by a reception at Mazatlán Restaurant in Aberdeen.