Obituary of David Dale Flori

David Dale Flori, 61 years, passing from this life on May 9th, 2023 in Largo, FL.

Born: Dec. 15, 1961 to Eugene and Jacqueline Flori in St. Louis Missouri.

David attended elementary school in the rural town of Coffeen, Illinois. His family lived on Coffeen Lake, his parents building Woodland Springs Campgrounds. He had a great boy’s life on the lake, fishing, swimming, ice skating, and always catching critters of all sorts. Weekends were looking forward to being with the weekend camper kids.

After his father’s death, his mother, he, and 2 sisters moved closer to family outside of St. Louis. He attended Seckman Middle and Fox Senior High Schools in Imperial and Arnold, Mo. He was a boy scout, loving to camp and canoe. He loved south central and the Ozarks of Missouri, exploring the rivers, woods, and caves.

David inherited his love of woodworking from his dad, deeply ingrained in his being. In his teen years, he started working in a custom wood shop, dreaming of having his own shop one day. Over the years his passion became chainsaw wood carving, which he became very skilled at. He was able to envision his artwork in a tree or raw bulk wood. He started his company “Tree Frog Carving and Milling” at Pevely Flea market. He sold many carvings of country bears, signage, various birds, benches and tables. He also did large private carvings on site throughout the St. Louis area, including a 10 ft. violin and electric guitar, and a large tree featuring 3 bears and a bee hive (photos below).

Moving to St. Petersburg in 2012, he started his business “Tree Frog Wood Art and Salvage”, setting up a carving booth at the former Value Fair Market in south St. Pete., and was featured on a local TV show in June 2014. He then moved his works to the Wagon Wheel Flea market until their closing. In most recent years he carved at the Sacred Lands in St. Pete. and Anderson Lumber Company in Gulfport. Beginning in 2013 he began his wood art of the “Big Shoe” collection, 8 shoes of various athletic types, carved from massive tree trunks on display in various locations in St. Pete. An article was featured in the Gulfport Gabber, photo of he and his Adidas shoe. His final shoe carvings were created and remain at Anderson Lumber. Large tables and other smaller works of art are at Anderson Lumber and Rastas Gallery in St. Pete for purchase.

His love of wood and carving superseded everything else in his life, including his health. He continued carving in chronic pain and fatigue the last 2 years. He wholeheartedly believed in the repurposing of trees, raw woods, and driftwoods. This passion is only understood by fellow carvers and artists. He had various self-made videos and websites of chainsaw carving on U-Tube/Facebook (chainsawism.com), dreamed of having his own carving classes, and the ultimate dream of a training show on PBS. He was proud of his works and loved creating them. David made a sign most appropriate, reading

“Welcome to my Addition” displayed at a worksite. David, may God grant you peace and rest your soul under the most beautiful tree in Heaven.

David is survived by his mother, Jackie Lehocky, sisters/spouses, Jean Wozniak (Tom), and Sherri DeLashmit (Reno), nephews, Frank Ross and Jake Delashmit (Rachael), niece, Micaela Perkins (Andy), and great niece Dolly June.

A Celebration of Life will be held July 7th , 2023 at the Sacred Lands, 1700 Park Street North, St. Petersburg, FL., time 6:30pm. Tie dye apparel suggested in his memory. 

"Please RSVP by July 4 of your attendance to jeanw51113@gmail.com"

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Flori, please visit Tribute Store