David Charles Gosnell

David Charles Gosnell, age 75, passed away Friday, June 24, 2011 at his home in Grants Pass, Oregon.

He was born in Vallejo, California on July 15, 1935 to Mary Ida (Soule) and Clyde Eugene Gosnell, one of seven brothers and sisters. He was a graduate of Escondido High School in California. He owned and operated Gosnell Tree Service in Santa Barbara, California for 30 years. David and his wife, Billie (Richardson) had a home in Santa Barbara overlooking his beloved Pacific Ocean. He and his family also lived for two years on his beautiful classic yacht, “The Memory” in Santa Barbara Harbor. After he sold his tree business, he and his wife travelled the United States and Mexico in a minivan. Then he bought a small farm in Grants Pass where he enjoyed family gatherings, music, barbecues, gardening, his horses and dogs. David was an avid horseman, skier, hiker, golfer, and loved navigating the Rogue in his drift boat. He was also owner/operator of Gosnell Trucking for ten years while living in Grants Pass. His wife Billie preceded him in death in 1999. David also spent many summers commercial fishing in Alaska on his nephew Robert Gosnell’s boat. A highlight of his life was sailing the TransPac to Hawaii and to Tahiti on his brother Robert’s boat.

In 2002, David married Judy Shellabarger in Redmond, Oregon. They loved to take trips to the ocean together, garden at their Grants Pass home, and entertain family and friends.

David was dearly loved by his daughters, Teresa Gosnell of Grants Pass, Renee Hartsough of Santa Barbara and Susie Gosnell of Santa Barbara; grandchildren, Orenda Friend and Ansley Gosnell both of Grants Pass; Thomas Flinchbaugh and Lucy Flinchbaugh both of Santa Barbara; Lindsey Hartsough, Matt Hartsough, and David Hartsough all of Santa Barbara; great-grandchildren, Lailee and Avery Friend both of Grants Pass; stepchildren, Julie Bolder of Thousand Oaks, California, Michelle Roundy of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Blake Shellabarger of Tigard, Oregon; a stepgrandchild, Katie Denton of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and a grandson-in-law, Jeremy Friend of Grants Pass.

Special gratitude to longtime Grants Pass friend Donn Leson, and to golfing buddy Jerry Berry who took David golfing many, many times in the last few years. David was always happy to be golfing with his friends at the Applegate Golf Course, where they knew him as “Fairway Dave”. David also had many close friends in Santa Barbara.

Our deepest appreciation to Lovejoy Hospice for their loving care of David and incredible support to his family.

As per his request, there will be no service.

Donations may be made in his honor to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon or Alzheimer’s Association, 1311 NW 21st Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97209.