Roll Call Tribute

Lewis David Shows 

January 25, 1945 - August 17, 2024 

In the early morning hours of August 17, 2024, Lewis David Shows passed peacefully surrounded by family. Born January 25, 1945, David came screaming into the world, feet first, at about 60 miles an hour in the front seat of the family sedan somewhere between Modesto, California and the hospital in Stockton. A fitting start to a life defined by a love of adventure.

A proud husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, David was many things to many people, but most of all he was loved and he loved - unconditionally. He grew up in Richmond, California and moved to Yoakum, Texas in the summer before his freshman year of high school. It was there he met the love of his life, Mary Koerper Shows. He went on to graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in Landscape Architecture, before enlisting in the United States Army. On February 1, 1969, before shipping off to Vietnam, David and Mary were joined in holy matrimony, in which they would happily remain for the rest of his life. After serving one tour in Vietnam and a subsequent year-long post in Casper, Wyoming, David was honorably discharged having reached the rank of captain, after which he and Mary relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where they promptly set about growing their family and establishing his career as a landscape architect.

David had an abiding appreciation for the wonders of the natural world, and this was most evident through his work, which provided natural beauty and charm throughout San Antonio and the surrounding communities. An early adopter of the “native plant” movement, David would spend many a long weekend traipsing the South Texas countryside searching for native species to bring home and propagate.

When he wasn’t working or dreaming up adventures for his family, Dave loved to spend his free time sailing between the Texas barrier islands or out on the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico with family and friends on his prized boat, the Lady Jane; often listening to Jimmy Buffett, sometimes hours on repeat, and regaling anyone within earshot with his entertaining and frequently ribald stories. Along with his love of sailing, David was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Also, he held personal fitness in high regard- so much so that he installed a two-story climbing rope in the family living room, which stayed there until the kids realized they could reach it by standing on the second story railing and slide down to the floor below. It was promptly removed to an old oak tree in the backyard. On more sedate weekends you would often find Dave busy about his gardens, planting and pruning and watering. Throughout his life, David was gifted with an astonishing natural curiosity which served him well not only in his career, but led him to embark on turns of drawing, backcountry camping, spelunking, sculpting, flying, welding, carpentry and endless other pursuits that piqued his interest.

The final 19 years of David’s life were spent battling the ravages of early-onset Alzheimer’s, which he fought with quiet strength and dignity, always with Mary by his side as primary caretaker and support. Indeed, he was a stubborn old goat, and we will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis D. Shows and Jane Axtell Shows, his sister Shari Mikulenka, and Pearl, his beloved Boston terrier. Dave is survived by Mary, his wife of 55 years, his daughter Dr. Jane Atkerson (Dr. Patrick Atkerson), his sons William Peyton Shows and Howard Robinson Shows (Katie Biven), his two granddaughters, Mary Linton Atkerson and Louisa Anne Atkerson, and his sister Pam Shows Morgan.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2024, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, CARRIQUI 239 E  GRAYSON ST. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a small donation to the Alzheimer’s Association - San Antonio-South Texas chapter. You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.porterloring.com