Obituary: David Lee McGaffee

David Lee McGaffee

David Lee McGaffee

David Lee McGaffee, age 52, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 23, 2018, in Prescott, Arizona.

David was born in Phoenix on June 4, 1965. He attended Brophy Prep and graduated from Central High School in 1983. He attended ASU and went to work with his father at the family business, Phoenix Vegetable Distributors, until he took over running the Ben Avery Shooting Range in 1995.

David and his father traveled throughout the country, shooting competitively together and individually from the time David was 11 years old. At the age of 14, he was captain of the Sub-Junior All American Skeet Shooting team and was selected for the American Junior Team two years later.

In 1979 he attended the U.S. Olympic training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and in 1981, he was the Junior Skeet Shooting title holder for Zone VII. He continued to compete and win many other competitions and accolades, including the 20-Gauge World Champion Skeet Shooter in 1996. In 1998, he won the Arizona Skeet Shooting Association’s 410 Gun Champion. David was inducted into the Arizona Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame.

During David’s lifetime, he was a racing enthusiast, everything from moto cross to formula cars. He actively pursued racing as a profession, competing in moto cross for three years. He was given the opportunity to attend the Jim Russell British School of Motor Racing in Riverside, California, and drove competitively on the Russell Graduate Series at Riverside Raceway and Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. He also raced at Phoenix International Raceway and was a member of the Verde Vaqueros.

David was loved by everyone who met him, he had a crowd-pleasing personality and never met a stranger. If it was in his power to help you, he would. He will be greatly missed by his family and many beloved friends. David is survived by his mother, Jean McGaffee; aunt, Laura West; and uncle, John Ekstrand.

The family asks that in lieu of flower, donations be made in David’s name to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 149 Madison Ave, Suite 901, New York, NY 10016; (212) 725-5176.

A Celebration of Life will be held on March 2, 2018 at 2 p.m., at American Lutheran Church, 1985 Drive, Prescott, Arizona.

Information provided by survivors.


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