Matthew Heath Davis

In the early morning hours of June 5, 2023, Matthew Heath Davis passed peacefully in his sleep from the effects of a long-term, chronic physical illness.  He was 45.  He is survived by his husband of twenty-two years, Eric Young (of Vermillion), his parents James Matthew Davis and Mary Catherine Davis (nee Bergman) (both of Vandalia, Ohio), his brother Brett M. Davis (of Centralia, Washington), and so many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Eric, his parents, his brother, and his extended family and friends will miss him profoundly. 

 
He grew up in Vandalia, Ohio and after high school earned his B.S. in Interior Design from the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP).  While at DAAP he received national recognition for his interior designs.  After graduation he worked in the architecture office at Northern Kentucky University – the same university where Eric worked as a law librarian.  Eric and Heath met in May 2001 and were immediately inseparable.  Although they were not officially married until New Year’s Eve 2013, Eric and Heath counted their years of marriage as from those early days when both knew their love would keep them together forever.  Heath, although an incredible interior designer, didn’t necessarily enjoy the client-side of the business (imagine that).  Designing and creating for others he realized was kind of a drag.  In 2007 he decided to return to school and, in 2008 he earned his Master of Library Science from Kent State University.  He found a second passion working in public libraries and his fondest professional memories were of his time at public libraries in Dayton, Ohio and Paducah, Kentucky.  He left these jobs as he followed Eric’s professional pursuits and found that he was just as passionate about staying home and taking care of their house and many dogs.  He prided himself in how beautifully “put together” each of their homes was and anyone who visited always was amazed at what Heath could do with his creativity and talent, some paint, some light carpentry, and, maybe, sometimes, a wall or two knocked down much to Eric’s surprise (the end results though, Eric always knew, would be amazing). 

Eric and Heath moved to Vermillion in May 2016 when Eric started at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law.  Heath worked off-and-on in temporary capacities at the USD I.D. Weeks Library and Yankton Public Library, but he primarily stayed home and enjoyed creating a loving and beautiful home for himself, Eric, and their devoted dogs Jupiter, Lilly, Piper (deceased), Ricky, and Tank (deceased).  His ardor for life was unmatched.  He loved like no other and he gave to those he loved like no other.  For those wishing to memorialize Heath in some way, they can do so by donating to either...
STOMP Out Bullying
https://give.stompoutbullying.org/give/347755/#!/donation/checkout 
or The Trevor Project.
https://give.thetrevorproject.org/give/63307/#!/donation/checkout.