Larry Reed Daves

In Loving Memory

Larry Daves
1943 – 2020

Larry Daves passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2020. He lost his battle with COVID-19 after 10 days in the ICU in Arizona. Larry was born on September 29, 1943 in Cortez, Colorado. He was the son of Grover and Mary Lois Finley Daves.

On December 22, 1963, he married his love, Suvian Russell Daves. Together they built a wonderful life with three beautiful children, Travis, Teresa, and Tanya. Larry and Suvian enjoyed soaking up the outdoors together. Some of their favorite activities included working on the farm, hunting, camping, fishing, boating, water skiing and snow skiing. They loved supporting their children and grandchildren together, attending wrestling matches, football and baseball games, dance performances, gymnastics events and rodeos. They spent adventurous vacation time together, traveling to Alaska, Lake Powell, Mexico, Washington D.C., and Hawaii. Despite Larry’s mild resistance to leaving the U.S., they even ventured to Europe to visit Tanya abroad at school. By example of their life together, they have taught their children the importance of family, the blessings of hard work, to relish the fun times, and to always live life to the fullest. Larry spent his retirement years with his love, traveling in their RV together and enjoying the winter months in Arizona.

As a third-generation local farmer, Larry started in the family business at the early age of 10. He graduated from Montezuma Cortez High School in 1962. Larry continued his passion for farming, raising alfalfa, pinto beans and wheat, building a legacy that his son, Travis, and his grandsons’, Dalton and Ryan, continue today. He remained actively involved on the farm as recently as the summer of 2020. Larry also had a career as a homebuilder and carpenter from the early 1960’s through the early 1990’s. Most notably, in 1965, he collaborated with his father to build his family home in Lewis, CO. Larry had an extraordinarily strong work ethic and instilled that strong quality and drive in his children and grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Larry was an avid hunter and fisherman who most likely never missed a single hunting season. He gave his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the gift of his love and passion for the outdoors. Whether hunting on the farm, in the mountains, fishing in rivers or lakes, Larry was most content surrounded by the magnificence of nature. He had quite the gun collection and was a proud, lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

Larry had a love for fast cars! Drag racing, hot rods, attending and entering in classic car shows was a significant part of his life. In high school, he raced a 62’ Impala and raced it on every road he could find. He collected a few cars throughout his life, including his favorite, a 55’ Chevy Bel Air. He ultimately fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams and raced numerous times at a racetrack in Grand Junction, CO.

Affectionately known as “Papa” by his grandchildren, he loved spending time with them. Some of his favorite moments with all the kids included singing silly songs and making them laugh, watching them in their activities, and sharing his love of the outdoors and his cars with them. During his life, he made numerous trips across the country to spend time with them and he never could pass-up a trip to Disneyland. He loved playing the role of “Papa.”

Larry will be missed dearly by all. He is survived by his beloved wife, Suvian Daves; 3 children, Travis Daves, Teresa Nash (Bobby, husband), and Tanya Daves; 8 grandchildren, Tyler (Alexandra, wife), Kiffany, Dalton (Megan, wife), Ryan, Kellsie (Justin, husband), Shane, Sophia and Connor; 8 great-grandchildren, Shasta, Everlea, Willow, Arry, Elenora, Grayson, Tilley, and Taylor; siblings, Dan Daves (Brenda, wife) and Patsy Whitaker (Jeff, husband).

May he rest in peace in the Arms of Our Lord.

The family has decided no memorial services will be held at this time. A celebration of his life will be held in the summer 2021. The family requests donations to be made in memory of Larry Daves to the Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org/.