Birth date: Feb 1, 1948 Death date: May 15, 2014
David 'John' Dumas, III, 66 o Highland, CA passed away on Thursday May 15, 2014 in Highland. He is survived by his wife, Pamela, daughter Sandra Jo (Rick) Powell, of Alpine UT, Kristine Melishia Dumas of Salt Lake City UT, son Da Read Obituary
What I prepared but didn't have time to say:
The earliest memories of my life involve my Cousin John.
Our families were always close, and despite physical distances that passing years place between us, remain so in our hearts. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love my cousin. I can’t imagine a time when I’ll stop.
From earliest childhood, John was a big brother to me. Despite the fact that he was nearly three years older, he never shunned me or made me feel unwelcome. Even as little kids, he allowed me access to his world, with patience and tolerance, contradicting the fearsome reputation built around him in the world, of which I was always keenly aware, but never fearful.
For an outsider, this might be hard to understand. But for me, John was not a mystery or a threat. He was in fact in many ways a contemporary version of someone we both adored: my father, a man no sane human would dare cross, whose exploits were the stuff of legend, but whose core was fiercely tender and protective of those he loved. So in those respects that matter most, I knew and understood John with my heart, long before I could describe him in words, always trusted him, and he never betrayed that trust.
As a little boy, I remember quietly watching John work on custom model cars in his room, mixing and matching kits, painstakingly modifying and sanding and painting the most delicate of parts, to craft and realize beautiful little creations not before seen anywhere outside his imagination. I never once dared to touch these wondrous things, unless he handed them to me to hold and examine, which I did with care, treating them like the exquisite jewels they were, all foreshadowing the fantastic motorcycles and cars and trucks he would continue to create throughout his life. He was an artist of the first rank, and anyone who had the privilege of seeing, riding or owning any of these powerful and beautiful machines, would agree.
I feel lucky that, over so many years, from childhood on up, I got to participate in a tiny fraction of John’s adventures, from hanging out in the underground clubhouse he had excavated, to blasting around deserted schoolyards in his seemingly turbocharged hand-made go-cart, to getting tattooed at the Pike in Long Beach, to hanging on for dear life behind him on the latest scooter he rolled out of the garage. John even welcomed the parade of friends I brought to his house, guys who had the good sense to be wary, but who still to this day remember those days with a smile and a funny story. And he embraced my lovely Marcia, my high school sweetheart, bride, and lifelong love, as a member of his family, and happily participated as one of our wedding party forty years ago this August.
This is not to whitewash his memory, for he was real and human and flawed and imperfect, as we all are. But he knew it, and he worked hard to be a better man, and in that struggle, he grew. In the dark times we both experienced, when I had disappeared into a rabbit-hole of addiction and despair, I found guidance and support from my cousin, following his lead, and ultimately achieving sobriety that salvaged marriages and renewed lives thought lost.
Through all this, John was a stalwart husband and father and grandfather, brother, cousin and friend, and a loyal and caring son to his parents, giving of himself in a way I could only hope to emulate. And all the while, at his side, and as his partner, John was blessed with Pam, another hero, whose faith and love and strength were a perfect match and a lifelong comfort to my cousin to the very end.
I believe in the everlasting, and see no reason that it should be denied us in the present, so my cousin will remain with me, to support me in quiet moments, to help remind me of what is really precious in life, and nudge me to embrace the blessings heaped upon me. I’m so grateful for the gift of his life.
We have known John for many, many years. He came to us with an idea for a bike. With his imagery and alot of hard work on both sides we made it happen. John and Pam became friends instantly for life. Our hearts go out to the family. Love Dick & Peggy Ellavsky, ATLAS
I met John in first grade at Fairfax Elementary School.
We have been friends ever since.
He will be my Brother forever.
My bet is he's riding in the clouds.
