Dennis Elsworth Davidson

Dennis was born and grew up in a humble home in the Portland area, although he never saw himself or his family as being poor in any way. His life was filled with many joys of childhood and in later years he enjoyed reflecting back on those times, sharing his many childhood memories with others.

During his younger years, he had four primary passions in life:

• Hunting. His love of hunting deer and elk knew no bounds. It mattered not the terrain, the weather, injuries or fatigue, Dennis would not give up until he obtained his objective. He also enjoyed both river and sea fishing.

• Scuba diving. Many do not know that Dennis was a Master Scuba Diver with a number of high-skilled certifications. If not for a physical limitation discovered during scuba diving, he would have gone into scuba diving professionally. That limitation was one of Dennis’s greatest disappointments as a teen and young adult.

• A boat. Dennis purchased the boat as a teen and fully restored and transformed it into a thing of true beauty and value. Some of his friends at that time had the privilege of sanding, scrubbing, and polishing the boat alongside Dennis.

• Church. Dennis was reared in a Christian home who worshipped in Assemblies of God churches. He loved the Lord and was committed to helping with those of his age. He even formed an “International” Biker’s Fellowship, coordinating and leading three crazy-long bike trips around the State of Oregon. (Those who participated in those bike trips are probably smiling at the term “international,” knowing how the term came about.) It was also at church during this time that he met his future wife.

While still in his teens, Dennis had two tragedies that profoundly affected the remainder of his life. At the age of 17, he lost a dear friend that was closer than a brother. He also was in a severe motorcycle accident that should have killed him, but God had plans for him and his life was spared. This accident left him in constant pain, both in his shoulder and in his ankle, both which had to be totally re-built. In spite of this pain, most people never knew of this, for Dennis kept this pain a secret to all but those closest to him.

As much as he loved his restored boat, once he found that person with whom he fell in love and with whom he desired to spend the rest of his life, without any hesitation whatsoever, he sold his cherished boat, as well as all of his expensive, top-of-the-line scuba equipment, so as to pay for his wedding and marriage to Rosann (Rosie) Stoller. Dennis dearly loved Rosie the rest of his life. They were married for 40 years.

Dennis and Rosie had the privilege and joy of bearing and raising two wonderful children – Matthew and Stephanie. Both share in similar intense passions, stubbornness and determination, apparently having inherited such passions from their dad. Matthew also inherited his dad’s love of hunting. Stephanie has a tender heart, having acquired that characteristic from both of her parents. Even though it was not in his nature to openly say so, Dennis was very proud of both of his children and of their accomplishments. When talking with others, however, he spoke of his children with pride and honor. He also lovingly embraced his children’s spouses, welcoming them into the family. Dennis was also a proud grandpa to Matthew’s children – Jolene and Scott.

From the age of 15, Dennis spent the rest of his life working, in one way or another, with RVs and manufactured homes. For the last 21 years, he created and grew DNR Associates, Inc., a construction company, into one that has a stellar-quality reputation in the repair and restoration of manufactured homes in the greater Portland area. Dennis prided himself for his honest interactions with customers and for over-delivering on the promises and commitments he made. In the last three years, Dennis also expanded his business into binding carpets for area rugs, having purchased the binding business from a retiring owner. While he enjoyed both endeavors, he knew that his body could no longer effectively continue in construction labor. He therefore chose to oversee the construction work, having others do the actual work, while turning his focus toward carpet binding for his own physical labor.

While Dennis enjoyed his work, it was his interaction with people that gave him his real pleasure. He was one of those people whose personality enabled him to be able to sell ice to an Eskimo, however, he chose not to mis-use his gift. He used it to encourage people as well as to help them make difficult decisions, whether on a personal level or as a professional contractor.

Dennis was a warm, outgoing person who was an instant friend to everyone he met. Because of his heart of gold, he was continually helping people in need. While those around him knew of a few of those occasions, there are many occasions about which we will not learn until we get to heaven. Only then will we learn of the quality of Dennis’s heart and how many people he touched with kindness.

Dennis, you will be sorely missed!

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

Matthew 25:34-36