David Lee Sumner, 48, passed away Nov. 24, 2005 after a long struggle with cancer. He was born Nov. 14, 1957 to Claude I. and Eleonore (Lemoine) Sumner in Albert Lea. David was the seventh child of a large family of seven boys and two girls, and was loved as an older brother as well as a younger brother, son, and husband.

David attended Ramsey Elementary School, Southwest Junior High School, and Albert Lea High School. He graduated early from high school in December of 1975, the same year he earned the

rank of Eagle Scout and his scouting Duty to God award.

David was very proud of having worked all his life from a very early age. He had a lawn mowing business at age seven. He was a delivery boy for the Albert Lea Tribune for nine years. He salvaged scrap iron from the city of Albert Lea after high school graduation, and worked as a house painter and a farm helper. He later worked for General Motors and for the Williams Brother’s Pipeline Company to save money to pay for his service as an LDS missionary to France in 1978.

Upon his return from France, David attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, and later graduated from Aurora Community College in Aurora, Colorado with his Associate’s Degree.

He married Yolande Ligault, from Noisy le Grande, France, in 1983, maintaining his fluency in French all his life. Although they later divorced, they both continued to love and care for each other throughout their lives.

David showed an aptitude for mechanical things at a very early age, learning many of his skills working alongside his father. He held supervisory and managerial positions for several companies in the Denver area. He used his skills to design, set up, and operate a very efficient hotel laundry facility while working for Holtz, Inc. He cared deeply for the people who worked for him, even learning Spanish so he could better communicate with them. He often offered them help out of his own resources.

David was in remission from throat cancer when he was diagnosed with abdominal cancer in May, 2004. He was admitted as the 7th patient of the newly opened Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he received chemotherapy in the summer of 2004. David wished to thank the doctors and nurses for their many kindnesses to him while there and afterwards. David was always upbeat about life, even while being treated for cancer, and was loved by all who knew him for his ready smile and sense of humor. David always endeared himself to children, taking time to talk and play with them, even though he had none of his own.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Mountain View Health Care facility as well as Hearts for Hospice for their care of David during his final weeks of life.

David is survived by his father, Claude, by his brothers Wayne (Janet) and John (Elaine) of Ogden, Utah, and Benet (Della) of Maple Shade, N.J., by his sisters Claudia (Ed) Gimbel, Decatur, Ind., and Kathryn (Paul) Furan, Sunnyside, Wash., and by his sisters-in-law Lynette (Ray) Sumner, Roy, Utah, Luann (Joel) Sumner, Albert Lea, and Judy (Glenn) Bennett of Springville, Utah. He is also survived by 33 nieces and nephews, 32 great nieces and nephews, and by one great great nephew.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Eleonore, and by his brothers Glenn, Joel, and Ray.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 1,

at 11 a.m. at

Myers Mortuary in Roy, 5865 South 1900 West. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday prior to services. Interment, Orem City Cemetery, Orem, Utah.

Send condolences to family at www.myers-mortuary.com.