John "Blaine" David died unexpectedly and tragically in San Antonio, Texas on July 5, 2015 at the age of 56. He was a charismatic charmer, a fiercely independent adventurer, an eloquent negotiator, and an avid outdoorsman.
Blaine was born in Church Point, Louisiana on July 1, 1959 and spent his childhood engaging in general mischief ranging from hitchhiking on train cars to pillaging old signs and bottles. He later graduated from Church Point High School in 1977 followed by a lengthy stint at the University of Life. He married the love of his life, Elena Thibodeaux David, on Christmas Eve in 1982, which is ironic because he hated presents (presumably because none could match the one he got that day). They made homes in Church Point (LA), Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Corpus Christi (TX), and San Antonio (TX) and enjoyed fishing, home improvement, and entertaining together. They raised two
daughters, Dr. Emily David (an Associate Professor of Management in Dubai) and Dr. Megan "Alex" David (a veterinarian in Corpus Christi). Blaine always wanted the best for his family and
never stopped working to provide it. The main lessons he imparted to his girls were self-reliance
and that they should consistently push themselves to reach their true potential. Well, that and how to unhook a fish and cook a mean chicken and sausage "sauce piquante".
Blaine was also a cherished son and brother. He is survived by his father, J.B. David, and his father's wife, Pilar David, his brother, Wayne David and sisters, Patricia Daigle, Danita David, Wynona
"Blackie" Bernard, and Wanda David of Church Point. He also leaves behind a veritable army of nieces, nephews, and family friends. They will always remember their "couillon" as the person who could make them laugh, give the worst drillers, and teach them the important things about being a man. He is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Mary "Earline" David and longtime family Labrador, Jake.
Over the years his intellect and drive resulted in a venerable oilfield career beginning as a humble roustabout and aggressively climbing the ranks to ultimately become a pioneer of Pioneer
Colombia and Senior Vice President of Operations at Pioneer Energy Services. As a colleague, he was characterized by his vibrant personality and warm, long-standing relationships. He made a
sizable impression on everyone, and will live on through the skills he taught, the debates he engaged in, and the laughter he shared.
Blaine loved simply to be in nature, whether it was lounging on the beaches of Destin or Costa Rica, fishing in the Bolivian Amazon, taking in the mountain air of the Colombian coffee country,
or sitting in a duck blind in southern Louisiana. Paradoxically, he also loved learning about and acquiring the latest gadgets and technology. His life is perhaps best summarized by the oft-used
phrase "Work hard, play harder", as evidenced by the sincere and loyal connections he made with the long list of friends who have spent time in his backyards. Although taken from them too
soon, his loved ones take solace in the fact that he was almost invariably remembered by every soul he ever met. No one ever asked the question, "Which one was Blaine David?"
A memorial service is scheduled on Saturday, July 25th at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Church Point. A reception will follow at the home of Shane and Stacey Daigle, 349 Happy Street, Church Point.
In honor of the hardworking doctors battling to heal his wife and in celebration of his commitment to education, his daughters ask that in lieu of flowers, well wishers make donations in his name to fund research at the National Trauma Institute (contact Sharon Smith at 210-524-7739 or sharon.smith@nationaltraumainstitute.org).
Finally, given that you are likely reading this silently, he would have wanted us to clarify that it is pronounced "Dah-veed", not "Day-vid".