David Trout co-founded Coffin & Trout Fine Jewellers with Randy Coffin in 1984. Dave and Randy have been advertising with Arizona Foothills Magazine since the first issue was released in May of 1997. They believed in me when others didn’t and they quickly transformed from clients to cherished friends.

Dave touched many lives, not only in our community but everywhere he went. He was always positive, he lived his life to the fullest and found joy in every moment. He always saw the beauty in people, never their faults—if only we could all live our lives a bit more like Dave.

In this issue, our annual relationship and love issue, we celebrate one of the most important relationships in life—marriage. In marriage, like friendship, we find a common ground; something special that bonds us together forever. In this month’s pages you will meet six local couples of all different age groups. Some may be newlyweds, while some are on their second marriage, but what is important is how they all remember not to take each other for granted. Their stories inspire us to take a moment to appreciate the ones we love, whether they are spouses, friends or family, and let them know it while we can.

There is a song out by Nickelback that goes like this:

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?

Dave lived every day like it was his last. We should all be that way because you never know what can happen tomorrow. We all miss Dave, but we believe he is in a much better place.

In memory of David Michael Trout, 1957 – 2009.