David Paul Tarver, age 68, of Tallahasse Florida, passed away October 2, 2019 after a lengthy battle with cancer. David Paul was the son of the late Lee and Lucille Tarver, born February 16, 1951 in Monroe, Louisiana.
Many knew him as David, others knew him as Paul. He was a member of the Deerlake United Methodist Church in Tallahassee, as well as numerous professional organizations. David joined the Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS) in 1973 after graduating from Northwestern State University in Louisiana with a BS degree in Wildlife Management. He received a Master’s degree in Botany from NSU in 1974 and joined the Florida Department of Natural Resources where he provided aquatic plant management extension services and law enforcement duties while serving as the Northwest Florida Regional biologist. David was hired by Eli Lily and Dow to work in Sonar herbicide product development and SePRO to become Director of Technical Development.
David was as 43-year member of Aquatic Plant Management Society and a charter member of the Florida and Texas APMS Chapters. He was President of both FAPMS and APMS. David was the publisher of “Aquatics” magazine from 1985-2009. He worked in APMS Education where he co-authored the “Understanding Invasive Aquatic Weeds” workbook distributed to more than a half million students.
For his many years of service to aquatic resources management, APMS bestowed Honorary Membership to David in 2012. Few have shown David’s relentless passion to improve the science and management of invasive aquatic plants or had such positive impacts restoring and maintaining the uses and functions of lakes and rivers as David Tarver.
Paul was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved, protected, and cherished his family above all else. Paul married his high school sweetheart, Debra Gallien in 1973. Together, they shared a lifetime of experiences including publishing a professional journal, traveling, raising two boys and loving their precious grandchildren. He shared his vast knowledge of science with his grandchildren through countless hours helping them with homework and teaching them how to study. Paul shared his passion and skills as an Eagle Scout and Boy Scout volunteer with his two sons, Dusty, Josh, and many of their friends. He supported their endeavors in sports, hunting, fishing, and taught them to value education and have respect for our country.
He will be remembered not just for his hunting and fishing abilities, which were extraordinary, but also for preservation of game and wildlife. His property surrounding his home is a virtual game preserve, at any moment of the day teeming with deer, turkeys, squirrels and other wildlife venturing out of the woods to surround the feeders he kept stocked for them.
He was preceded in death by his father Lee Tarver and mother Lucille Pope Tarver, and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Marie Evans Tarver.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years Debra Gallien Tarver, son Dustin and wife Selena; grandchildren Presley Tarver and Bristol Tarver, and Sterling Moon, Asher Moon, and Luciano Moon, and son Josh and grandson, Colby.
He is also survived by siblings Lee Douglas Tarver and wife Ginger of Douglas, Georgia, sister Bethany Cooper and husband Bratley of Mandeville, Louisiana, and sister Jodi Shirley and husband Keith of Natchitoches, Louisiana, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. In-laws Kenny and wife, Nelda Gallien of Natchitoches, LA, Diane and husband, Ron Forguson of New Port Richey, Florida, Tina Norsworthy, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, Jennifer Gallien, of Colorado, and Richard Gallien of Mabank, Texas.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, October 5 at Deerlake United Methodist Church at 1:00 pm.
Donations can be made to The University of Florida Health Shands Cancer Hospital, 1515 Southwest Archer Road, Gainsville, FL 32608.
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