David Bird Ashcraft

David Bird Ashcraft

David Bird Ashcraft, age 72, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at his home following a brief cancer illness. He was born April 23, 1946, in Wichita, Kan., the son of Jay Ashcraft and Helen AshcraFort He married Sharon Colvin on Jan. 25, 1978. Dave owned and operated his own business, Ashcraft Pest Control, for over 50 years and which continues on today. Dave grew up in Silverton, Colo., where he participated in cowboy reenactments for tourists and loved all things western and Native American including collecting arrowheads and Indian artifacts and watching old westerns on TV. He also enjoyed hunting, especially elk hunting during his many trips to Silverton and Durango, Colo. Dave was known for his kindness, generosity and friendly personality. He loved people and never met a stranger. Dave especially loved his family and spending time with them. We will miss our dear Papa.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of the home; five children, Margie O’Dell, of Pittsburg, Kan., Jocie Clary and husband, Tim, of Smithton, Mo., Shelly Shelton and husband, Dale, of Fort Scott, Kan., Tammy Pruitt and husband, Terry, also of Fort Scott and David Allen Tauber and wife, Casey, of Rogers, Ark.; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Dan Ashcraft, of Wichita, Kan., and Richard Ashcraft, of Topeka, Kan., and his loyal canine companion, Tug. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Becky Tauber and Ruth Ann Ashcraft.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 22 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. A graveside service will be held at a later date in the Centerville Cemetery near Devon, Kan. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.