David "Buzz" Francis Sylva

Lifelong Siskiyou County resident David Francis "Buzz" Sylva became ill of unknown causes on Saturday, November 7, 2020 and passed away on Sunday, November 15th, at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, with his wife and "girls" telling him how much they loved him. Buzz was born on February 13, 1952 in Yreka to Francis and Bert Sylva of Willow Creek. He attended Willow Creek Elementary School, Jackson Street School, and graduated from Yreka High School with the Class of 1970. He attended College of the Siskiyous where he played football for two years. He then traveled around the United States for a while before landing in Colorado where he worked at a lumber mill in South Fork. But he quickly realized that his heart was still in Siskiyou County, and he returned to his home. He began working on the Sylva Brothers Ranch in Willow Creek. Over the years, he had a range of jobs working in mills, construction, and driving for Siskiyou County Behavioral Health. Whatever job he performed, he worked hard and enjoyed it to the fullest. But, most importantly, wherever he went, he loved meeting and getting to know a wide variety of people. He loved to camp, garden, read, play all kinds of card and board games, engage in political debates on Facebook, and work on his family's ranch. Buzz was a gentle, caring soul and had the heart of a giant. He had such a unique and rare gift of making everyone feel welcome and part of his "circle" (which was an enormous one)! Everyone - old, young, and in-between - loved him. And if you were fortunate enough to meet and get to know Buzz, you immediately knew you had a friend for life. He would help anyone with anything they needed, and all without any thought of recognition or praise. He was a humble "behind the scenes" man with a giving spirit, and he helped others for the sole purpose of the joy it brought him. Buzz was a constant seeker of happiness and would want all of his loved ones to remember him that way, and to live their lives in the same way. But the light in the world faded when he left it. Buzz was preceded in death by his loving parents, Francis and Bert Sylva of Willow Creek. He is survived by his wife, Connie Lathrop of Willow Creek; daughter Kyla Sylva (Esteban Hernandez) of Yreka; daughter Taylor Sylva (Evan Nussbaum) of Citrus Heights; sister Bonnie Sylva (Mark Powers) of Davis; sister Nancy Sylva (Robert Silva) of Willow Creek; sister Sheree Sylva of Willow Creek; sister Deborah Sylva of Montague; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews, two aunts, many cousins, and countless cherished friends. If you wish to honor Buzz's memory, his family requests that donations be made in his name to Siskiyou Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1482, Yreka, CA 96097; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. It is the hope of his family that his "circle" can all come together for a "Celebration of Buzz" at a place and date to be announced at a later time.

David "Buzz" Francis Sylva

February 13, 1952 - November 15, 2020