The world lost a warm and generous soul when David Amasa Davidson peacefully departed this life on February 7, 2016. He was born in Ft. Bridger, Wyoming, to Marion Davidson and Inez Hollingshead Davidson on March 20, 1935. He is survived by his wife, Karen Lynn; his five sons, Joseph Davidson (Laura), John Finch (Dierdre), Robert Finch (Lezli), Wesley Davidson, and Eliott Davidson. His six grandchildren have been the delight of his life. Also surviving him are his sister Vay Apgood, brother Ted (Carolyn), and sister-in-law Joan. In addition, visits from his ever‚expanding group of nieces and nephews were a source of mutual joy.
After the death of David's father, his older sister and her husband, Inez and Gerald Norris, took him into their home in Randolph, Utah, where he graduated from high school. After having grown up in rural surroundings, David went on to experience a larger world. He was blessed with an exceptional mission president and wonderful companions in the Swiss-Austrian Mission, where he served from 1955 to 1957. From 1958 to 1960, he was on active duty in the army. Determined to obtain an education, he graduated from BYU and then continued his studies and was part of BYU's first Masters of Accountancy graduating class. For the rest of his life, his eyes were open to the delights of the arts, nature, history, and gospel truth.
After five years with the accounting firm of Peat Marwick in San Francisco, he moved on to a career in corporate finance. He was known for his integrity, his unfailing courtesy, and his keen financial insights. His work in health care administration included Beverly Enterprises and Voluntary Hospitals of America. He then embarked on commercial real estate management and retired as the Chief Financial Officer of CB Commercial Real Estate.
David's proudest achievement during his retirement years was as a founding board member of the Mormon Scholars Foundation. Each year MSF has chosen a group of young scholars for a summer seminar at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. This seminar is now in its seventeenth year. Its alumni have gone on to hold major academic and research positions related to Mormon studies. Their contributions to a greater understanding of Mormon history and theology cannot be overstated. In addition to the regular summer program, MSF has sponsored seminars, conferences, and firesides elsewhere in the United States and in Europe.
A family burial took place in Dayton, Idaho, on February 12. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 20, at the Ensign Stake Center, Second Avenue and "A" Street, in Salt Lake City at 12:00 noon. Friends are invited to greet the family at 11:00.
The family wishes to thank IHC Hospice and the many other people who helped David during his final illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mormon Scholars Foundation at this link: https://donate.makemydonation.org/donate/260359105 or to the charity of your choice.
