David (Dave) Vaughan Larsen Obituary (1957 - 2002)

David Vaughan Larsen 'Dave' OGDENa"Dave is a devoted and eternal sweetheart to Gwyn Ann Davidson Larsen. He is a loving and dedicated father to Gregory Vaughan and Dayna Oliekan Larsen, Van Jay and Lori Lee Larsen Aston, Emily Ann Larsen and Ashley Gael Larsen. He is thrilled beyond measure to be a loving "Grandpa Dave" to Hunter David Larsen, who will be born in December of this year. Surrounded by his loving family, Dave died peacefully at his home from complications of a rare and fatal brain disorder, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, on Sunday, July 21, 2002. Dave was born on June 29, 1957 in Ogden, Utah, and grew up in Pleasant View, Utah. He loved and honored his parents, the late Norman Vaughan Larsen and "Sister" Gladys Rawlings Larsen, who is serving an LDS mission in England at this time. He loved and cared about his four sisters and two brothers very much. 'He loved you all', including his many nieces and nephews, special aunts, uncles and cousins. He also has a "family of friends" whom he loved and cherished as his own. Dave was sealed for time and all eternity to his sweetheart, the love of his life, Gwyn Davidson, on September 29, 1978. With her came his second set of parents, Tom and Nancy Davidson, of Ogden, and all her family, whom he also loved dearly. He often remarked, "East met West and it was Best." The following are Dave's own words which he wrote before he became so ill. He wanted you to have his final thoughts and sentiments. With these words we express our deepest gratitude to all of you who have helped us so much, especially Dr. Sharman, and we pray you will feel what is in our hearts. Thank you and God bless you. "Only the heart speaks a language the soul understands." My beautiful, eternal sweetheart, who has made all my dreams come true over and over again, has been quietly and calmly saying that to me for years. I'd let her know that I thought she was way too much into this 'feeling thing'. However, I finally 'got it', or at least I am beginning to 'get it' after all these years. My LDS mission in the Chicago, Spanish-speaking mission taught me much, at a time when only a handful of foreign speaking missions even existed in the United States. Even so, I still had so much to learn about the eternal difference between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I always knew the Church was 'true' and never had a problem with that. I did all the right stuff, held lots of positions, graduated from college, had the family, loved my wife, and did well in my profession. Then 'I started to get it', the why of it all, and if you know me, you know that "why" is my middle name. So why this? Why me? Why am I, a 45-year old guy, who is head-over-heels in love, even more in love with my beautiful wife than ever before, who is starting to really enjoy being a dad, not just the provider, and who truly loves my calling with the University Stake with all my heart, being brought back home? Well, I can't answer that totally, but I can quote Gwyn who always says 'I'm just an average lady trying to do what's right.' (Another one of those touchy-feely quotes). She is right as usual and that makes me 'just an average guy trying to do what's right.' This life is not my plan; we are simply part of a much larger picture. I know this is true and that I am not in charge. (You know I am dead when I allow these words to be published . . . !) I also want you to know that I have an honest and sincere testimony of our Father in Heaven, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel, which is true. I have no doubt that I will be with my sweetheart again and we will be together forever, along with all our children and grandchildren and our loved ones. I know that. I do know our family is forever! I look forward to being with you when you return to our Father in Heaven and I also look forward to meeting, again, my relatives and loved ones who passed on before me. I am so grateful to know that all of this will be a reality. I have felt it in my soul and know it to be true. As hard as this is to swallow sometimes, just remember that this life is but a twinkling of an eye in God's time. We will be together again with those we love and care about. That is as real as the grass under our feet, I promise. I love each of you, as does my sweetheart, best friend, and without question, my angel wife, Gwyn. Thank you again for all you do to help us. Also thank you for being part of our hearts. God bless you all till we meet again. Always, Dave." The best memorial of all is to truly love each other. If you wish, you may donate to one of their passions, the Tree House Children's Museum, the LDS Church in any way, or to someone truly in need. Dave (and Gwyn) also loves flowers. VisitationBen Lomond 1st Ward Chapel 650 E. 3550 N. North Ogden, UT July 28, 2002 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ServiceBen Lomond 1st Ward Chapel 650 E. 3550 N. North Ogden, UT 84414 July 29, 2002 2:00 PM CemeteryBen Lomond Cemetery 526 East 2850 No North Ogden, UT 84414 July 29, 2002