After a life of love and quiet grace, David Eugene DeLap of Malott, WA has passed.
A life is more than dates on a stone; here is a small portion of his story.
David spent his working life as ['laborer in an orchard', 'cowboy and then at the Quik-E-Mart stores'] — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
Memory has a way of softening time.
David was born August 5, 1961, to Ronald and Kay DeLap in Peoria, Illinois. He told many stories of growing up there with his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Dave passed away at Malott, Washington on April 29, 2026, after a long battle with heart disease and kidney failure. He fought hard, and he was tired. He is free from all of that now.
In 1975 the family moved to Washington state after the death of his father in 1972. He graduated from Okanogan High School in 1980. He worked as a laborer in an orchard, worked as a cowboy and then at the Quik-E-Mart stores. Dave moved to Cashmere in 1989 to manage the new Quik-E-Mart. It was there that Dave and Lori met. They enjoyed 36 years together and made many memories with a lot of love and laughter.
David became a father to Cassandra and Camden then, and they added another son, John, to complete their family. He enjoyed going to their sporting events and even helping coach baseball teams. He was so proud of his three children and loved his family deeply. He made sure to tell them all the time that he loved them.
Dave and Lori moved their family to Malott in 2003, and Dave enjoyed working at his brother's fruit stand, DeLap Orchards. He was proud of doing this and loved talking to the people he met there about the fruit, and everything else! Some of his doctors would stop and chat with him and buy fruit. He could always be seen there with his dog, Buddy, who was his constant companion.
The grandchildren came along, Kai and Maleah Johnston, Brooke Duncan, Tenley, Johnny and Bennett Delisi. Dave really enjoyed teaching them bad habits (like riding bicycles in stores and stomping in mud puddles) and teasing them. He loved them so much.
Dave is survived by his mother, Kay; wife, Lori; children Cassandra (Zach); Camden and John; grandchildren; brother Rick; sisters Debbie (Jeff) and Trudy (Pat); several nieces and nephews; family in Illinois, along with many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald, and his stepfather, Gene Washburn.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Malott Fire Department in Dave's name would be appreciated. A memorial is planned for Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the Malott Grange. Please bring your stories to share as we remember Dave.
