David Lee Mahaffy of Idaho Springs, Colorado, lost his battle with pneumonia on June 14, 2025.
On May 6, 1962, David Lee Mahaffey was born in the small, northern California town of Portola to Betty Sue and Phillip Ray Mahaffey. Shortly after, they moved to Colorado.
David excelled as a young student and had a keen interest in learning about the natural world. As he grew up, he was drawn towards science, especially biology. He took up taxidermy at an early age and as a hunter he had plenty of subject matter to work with, but birds were his favorite subject matter.
As time passed, he got part time to full time construction jobs and became a fine carpenter with many happy customers along the way.
His interests in the natural world evolved to geology where interest in plate tectonics took off, and as an avid reader he could tell you anything you ever wanted to know about geology. He was a rockhound almost to a compulsion as his rock collection took up more room than his furniture. He was an all-around outdoorsman, with a love for hunting and fishing.
David passed away too early on June 14, 2025, aged 63 years and is survived by his mother Betty, brother and sisters Eric, Krista, and Sue Anne, his stepson Justin Williams... he will be missed by many. R.I.P.
Services will be held on July 11, 2025, at 11 a.m., at St. James Church of Central City, 123 Eureka Street, with a reception following at Betty’s house.
