David Lee Maples Sr.

David Lee Maples Sr., also known as Cricket, passed away peacefully at the age of 69 in the arms of his children and grandchildren on Thursday, July 28, 2022. He was born on September 2, 1952, to Barbara Ann Shipley and Arnold Clinton Maples in Miami, Florida. David served in the United States Airforce and the Army. He was a third-generation roofing company owner, a writer, a good friend, and a fighter. It was his opinion that his greatest achievement in life was his seven children, and his many grandchildren, of whom he was so proud. He was a man that didn’t know his own strength, with a bigger-than-life personality. He could shake the rafters with his laughter. He never failed to tell a joke to a stranger, because he always wanted to share a smile or a laugh. If you were in need, he was the first one to help you. He wasn’t afraid to give you the hard truth, and he would tell you if you wanted to hear it or not. David was a deep-thinker and was fascinated by space and the meaning of life. He once was told by a college psychology professor, that the purpose of his class was to stretch his mind, but that David's mind was already stretched. He had a love for history and genealogy, and it was always important to him to look at the past to better understand the present. He made many sacrifices over the years, one of those being his body as he worked in construction to provide for his family. His two uncles, Robert (Bobby) Shipley and Walter Shipley were like brothers to him and took such great care of him when his health began to decline. He is survived by his children: Debra Maples Banfield, David Maples II, Sean Maples, Samuel Maples, Breanna Maples, Amanda Copeland, and Justin Green. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. His family is grateful for his sacrifices and his service to his country. He will live on forever in our hearts