David Berman Walker

David Berman Walker, 66, of Maryville, Missouri, passed away on July 21, 2026, due to complications from a stroke. He was born to Marlys Ann (Ryker) Walker and Laymon Berman Walker on October 2, 1959 in St. Joseph, Missouri. His life was marked by a persistent and curious intellect, deep compassion, and quiet dedication to the people who needed him most.

David was, by all accounts, one of the smartest people you could ever meet. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and a curiosity that never quit. He read voraciously and was a lifelong learner, genuinely fascinated by the world around him. He could talk about nearly anything, and he usually wanted to. He also had a wonderful sense of humor, the kind that could catch you off guard and leave you laughing long after the conversation ended.

David grew up with a sharp mind and a big heart, qualities that would shape everything he did. This lead to him serving our country in the Air Force during Desert Storm. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Westminster College (MO), he graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin and embarked on a career in psychiatry that spanned more than 40 years. His work was never about prestige or recognition. David devoted himself to working with at-risk adolescents, young people with special needs who came from tough backgrounds and often had nowhere else to turn. He showed up for them day after day, year after year, offering the kind of steady, thoughtful care that changed lives. It was the work he was meant to do, and he did it with everything he had.

There were passions beyond work. He loved comic books with an enthusiasm that never faded, finding joy in their stories, artistry, and place in popular culture well into adulthood. And he loved cats, who appreciated his gentle, patient nature as much as the people in his life did. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge his whole life following in the tradition of his dad and grandfather.

David was also an adventurer when the opportunity arose. He traveled to Scotland and Ireland with his mother and father, a trip that held a special place in his heart, and he fulfilled a dream by going on safari in Africa. But some of his greatest adventures were quieter ones, spent with the family he loved so dearly. He was a wonderful brother, uncle and son; his devotion to his mother and father was something everyone around him could see and admire.

He is survived by his sisters, Karen (Walker) Leeper (Mark Leeper) and Annette (Walker) Farnan (John Farnan); his nephews, James Farnan, (Emily Farnan), Henry Farnan, and Wyatt Leeper; and nieces Emily Leeper and Hannah Leeper. He is also survived by two of beloved aunts, Carol Felland (Minneapolis) and Evelyn Summa (Maryville) as well as other beloved family members in Minneapolis and Maryville.

David's faith in Christ was a cornerstone of his life. The Bible was among his most cherished texts and its teachings guided the compassion and generosity he extended to everyone around him. There is comfort in knowing that a man who spent his life caring for others is he may find the peace and rest he so richly earned. Now at rest as his Grandpa Ryker would say, “…now he knows the secret.”

It's hard to believe he's gone. It's hard to believe he's not here. But the lives he touched, the young people he helped find their way, the laughter he brought into a room, all of that remains. 

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Jeffers, Minnesota. Family and friends are welcome to gather and celebrate a life well lived.

In the words of a song David's family holds close, from Mazzy Star's "Lay Myself Down," there is a quiet grace in letting go. David laid himself down gently, having given everything he had.