David Lyle Rivers, Sr. was born in Olympia, Washington on July 3rd, 1954. He was the oldest of three children born to Dave and Mickey Kessler. In his youth, Dave could often be found fishing on the Nisqually River or trekking through the woods. He felt most at peace in nature and felt a communion with God when he spent time in the outdoors. He loved animals of all kinds and even once adopted a raccoon whom he named Ricky. Later in life he had many furry companions. His dog, Misty, whom he owned towards the end of his life, was a constant companion and added much joy to his life. He also loved to play games, especially card games, and taught many people one of his favorite games – cribbage. He was a huge football fan and his loyalties were split between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. One of his happiest days was when the Seahawks won the Super Bowl and Dave was able to attend the celebration parade with a couple of his sons.

Dave had an artistic soul and often spent his time writing poetry or creating beautiful pieces using mediums ranging from a pen and paper, to ceramics, to paint. He loved to express himself through creativity and often encouraged others to do the same.

Dave had a sincere faith in God and confessed that faith often to those close to him or more publically on his social media page. He believed in the power of a personal relationship with God and felt that was much more important than any organized religion. Perhaps his favorite cause, however, was fighting for the acceptance of cannabis. He was a passionate advocate for cannabis rights and believed in its healing properties. He embraced cannabis culture and truly found a community who shared his passion.

Dave had four children, all of whom he cared about deeply. In addition, he had many who admired and respected him. Several people reached out after his passing expressing how much Dave meant to them – citing times they spent with him hunting rocks, fishing, or just talking – many looking to him as a surrogate father figure. He was a support and comfort for his community and will be extremely missed by many.

Dave is survived by his mother, Mickey Rivers; his sister, Debbie Odden; his sons David, Shane, and Jeremy; his daughter Danielle; his grandkids Luke, Ashleyanna, Aiden, Emmie, Abigail, and Jaxyn; and his great grandson, Blake. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews. His brother, Dennis, preceded him in death by one day.

Dave’s celebration of life will be held at 4:00 p.m. on October 26th at the Jacob Smith house in Lacey, Wa (4500 Intelco Loop SE 98503). All who knew and cared for Dave are invited to attend. In lieu on flowers, the family asks for donations to The Last Prisoner Project to help free incarcerated individuals who have been convicted of marijuana related offenses in states where cannabis has since been legalized.