David Wiley (Sparky) Stark, 65, passed away on October 8, 2020 at his home in Sedro-Woolley.  He lost his battle with lung cancer, but got to celebrate his birthday early with daughter Jennifer via Messenger; sisters-in-law Karen and Nancy; and wife, Linda.  The Beatles sang “Today is your birthday”, followed by the traditional “Happy Birthday” and a shot of his favorite, Miller High Life.

David was born on October 18, 1954 in Willits, California to Donald H. and Helen L. (Oliver) Stark.

After living in California, Oregon and various places in Washington, the family settled in the Skagit Valley in 1962.

Dave attended several grade schools and graduated from Burlington Edison High School in 1972.

After graduating, Dave performed several jobs including fishing and crabbing in Alaska.  Among them was a maintenance man and relief engineer on the M/V Sea Producer.  He was a Production Supervisor at Wire Fab Company in Mount Vernon from May 1981 through October 1988 before becoming a welder for EDCO, Inc. and later an assembly mechanic also for EDCO, building many test carts for Boeing, before retiring in 2018 due to his cancer.  He and wife Linda decided to do some traveling while time was available.

Linda was impressed that Dave liked to cook and vacuum and she asked Dave to marry her.  He replied with a proposal on bended knee.  Dave and Linda snuck off to Maui to get married on June 16, 2010.  Everyone just thought it was another vacation.  Dave’s daughter Jennifer lived on the island and she and Marlon witnessed the ceremony performed by a husband and wife team on Makena Beach at sunset.  It cost Dave Hawaiian flowers sent to his Mother-In-Law once a year from then on.

Dave was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.  He enjoyed many family outings while young and then many years at his parent’s property with family and friends on Sinclair Island for over 40 years. He enjoyed crabbing, fishing, boating, camping, traveling, rockhounding and working on his dad’s 1937 John Deere tractor that he brought home from Sinclair Island.  Dave also loved his motorcycle and every year for over 20 years, he and 4 or 5 friends (Carter Lahrmann, Tim Martin and Jason Bauer) would get together and go for a 3 or 4 day weekend somewhere on a Dilly Dally Rally; where they would camp and hang out together.  It would take them months to figure out where to go, and then hours to figure out where to camp, and hours again to figure out where to eat and drink in town.  Thus, the “Dilly Dally Rally”.

Many people did not know that he was battling cancer because he never complained.  Even in the later months he never related how much pain he was in and he was always in the center of gatherings and work parties with family and friends.  He was humble and hardworking and had an infectious smile and a gentle soul.  He was inventive, creative and inquisitive about everything from the time he was a young boy.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughters Jennifer (Marlon) of New Zealand and Melissa of Mount Vernon; sisters Susan (David) Sanderson of Bellingham and Cynthia (Billy) Ensley of Clear Lake and brother Richard (Michele) Stark of Seattle; grandsons Ethan Doctor of Mount Vernon and Macsen Harris of New Zealand.  He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews; Linda’s grandchildren and great grandchildren of Nebraska who consider him their Grandpa; best friend Alvin Morgan; and longtime friends of the 20 year long Dilly Dally Rally group, Tim Martin and Jason Bauer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Helen Stark, his Aunt Dorothy (Dot) Oliver, Aunt Bernice Logan and best friend Carter Lahrmann.

An Open House Celebration of Life will be held using Social Distancing between 3:00 and 5:00, Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Lemley Chapel, 1008 Third Street, Sedro-Woolley.  There is a 30 person limit in the chapel at a time, so please be patient and understanding while observing the guidelines of Covid protocol.  There will be gloves, masks and hand sanitizer available throughout the Chapel.

Linda understands that you may not be able to attend because of health issues and wants everyone to be safe.  If you feel you cannot attend, please share your memories of David and sign the online guest register.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, P.O. Box 24385 Seattle, WA 98124-0385 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123.