David L Slaven

David Lynn Slaven, 69, of Kansas City, passed away peacefully following a short battle with cancer on the 1st of April, 2017 surrounded by his family and dear friends. He was born to the late Edna Yvonne Slaven on the 16th of February, 1948, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Dave graduated from Bono High School in 1966, then attended the University of Arkansas for a short time. In his youth, David lived in Memphis Tennessee, where he enjoyed playing in the local music scene and was a member of several local bands. He later moved to Austin, TX where he started his career in sales. In the early 80’s he moved to Kansas City, MO, where he met his late wife, Julia Ledell and married in 1990.The two were married 19 years and had one child together, Sarah Slaven Lemmond born in 1990. Dave then attended the University of Missouri, Kansas City where he earned his four year degree and continued his career in sales. David was an avid musician and played with various groups in the Kansas City area and attended many local jam sessions at his favorite place to play, Knucklehead’s. He attended St. Peter’s Parish where he helped organize several fundraisers over the years. He became friends with just about anyone that he met. Dave always had a joke ready to make anyone laugh. People that know him said he would have coworkers shaking and rolling with laughter. He was a loving father, and an amazing grandfather. David was proceeded in death by his mother, Edna Yvonne Slaven Sheffield, his grandparents, Garfield and Maggie Slaven, and his wife, Julia Ledell. He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Lemmond and his grandchildren, Liam Lemmond (3years) and Emerson Lemmond (2months). David lived the life of many men. He was a musician, a writer, a fisherman, a hunter, a comedian, a motorcycle rider, a stock car racer, a national guardsman, a salesman, a southern gentleman, a father, a grandfather and a beloved friend to so many. He was the life of the party, the ear to talk to and the shoulder to cry on for anyone who needed it. David touched so many others lives, and because of this his life will never be forgotten. A visitation will be held on Wednesday April 19th at 9: at St. Peter’s. A celebration of his life and funeral mass will follow at 11. The celebration will wrap up with a barbecue in his honor following the mass. He will be buried at the Herman Cemetery Jonesboro, Arkansas on Thursday, April 27th at 10am.