Sec Form 4 Filing - Abernathy Lawrence S @ DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO - 2018-03-30

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Abernathy Lawrence S 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO [ NONE] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) VP & GM, Davey Tree Surgery Co (Last) (First) (Middle) 1500 N. MANTUA STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 03/30/2018 (Street) KENT, OH44240 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/30/2018 M 4,262 ( 1 ) A $ 0 88,449 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 S/K 16,063 ( 2 ) D $ 0 72,386 ( 3 ) D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,000 A $ 8 76,386 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 12,000 A $ 8.3 88,386 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,000 A $ 11.6 92,386 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 3,000 A $ 13.2 95,386 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 2,000 A $ 15.05 97,386 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 2,000 A $ 16.35 99,386 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 1,500 A $ 17.6 100,886 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 2,400 A $ 8.2 103,286 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,000 A $ 8.3 107,286 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,000 A $ 9.2 111,286 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,000 A $ 9.85 115,286 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,000 A $ 11.6 119,286 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,200 A $ 13.2 123,486 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 4,200 A $ 15.05 127,686 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 6,300 A $ 16.35 133,986 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 M 3,200 A $ 17.6 137,186 D Common Stock 05/29/2018 D 23,741 ( 4 ) D $ 0 113,445 D Common Stock 98,579.3884 ( 5 ) I By 401(K)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Subscription Rights (Right to Buy) $ 9.85 03/30/2018 M 4,262 08/01/2012 08/01/2019 Common Stock 4,262 $ 0 710 ( 1 ) D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 6 ) $ 8 05/29/2018 M 4,000 11/02/2010 11/02/2019 Common Stock 4,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 6 ) $ 8.3 05/29/2018 M 12,000 11/01/2011 11/01/2020 Common Stock 12,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 6 ) $ 11.6 05/29/2018 M 4,000 06/24/2014 06/24/2023 Common Stock 4,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 6 ) $ 13.2 05/29/2018 M 3,000 06/30/2015 06/30/2024 Common Stock 3,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 6 ) $ 15.05 05/29/2018 M 2,000 06/29/2016 06/29/2025 Common Stock 2,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 6 ) $ 16.35 05/29/2018 M 2,000 06/28/2017 06/28/2026 Common Stock 2,000 $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) ( 6 ) $ 17.6 05/29/2018 M 1,500 06/23/2018 06/23/2027 Common Stock 1,500 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2009) $ 8.2 05/29/2018 M 2,400 ( 7 ) 03/10/2010 12/31/2018 Common Stock 2,400 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2010) $ 8.3 05/29/2018 M 4,000 ( 7 ) 03/09/2011 12/31/2019 Common Stock 4,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2011) $ 9.2 05/29/2018 M 4,000 ( 7 ) 03/11/2012 12/31/2020 Common Stock 4,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2012) $ 9.85 05/29/2018 M 4,000 ( 7 ) 03/07/2013 12/31/2021 Common Stock 4,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2013) $ 11.6 05/29/2018 M 4,000 ( 7 ) 03/07/2014 12/31/2022 Common Stock 4,000 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2014) $ 13.2 05/29/2018 M 4,200 ( 7 ) 03/07/2015 12/31/2023 Common Stock 4,200 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2015) $ 15.05 05/29/2018 M 4,200 ( 7 ) 03/06/2016 12/31/2024 Common Stock 4,200 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2016) $ 16.35 05/29/2018 M 6,300 ( 7 ) 03/04/2017 12/31/2025 Common Stock 6,300 $ 0 0 D Stock Appreciation Rights (2017) $ 17.6 05/29/2018 M 3,200 ( 7 ) 03/10/2018 12/31/2026 Common Stock 3,200 $ 0 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Abernathy Lawrence S 1500 N. MANTUA STREET KENT, OH44240 VP & GM, Davey Tree Surgery Co Signatures /s/Lawrence S. Abernathy/Christopher J. Bast, by Power of Attorney 05/30/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Reflects exercise of stock subscription rights. The reported rights to purchase shares of the Company's common stock were acquired in the Company's stock subscription offering to employees and non-employee directors in accordance with the provisions of The Davey Tree Expert Company 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan (the "Plan"). All participants in the offering purchasing in excess of $5,000 of common stock were granted a "right" to purchase one additional share of common stock, at a price of $19.70 per share, for every three shares of common stock purchased under the Plan. Each "right" may be exercised at the rate of 1/7 per year beginning on August 1, 2012, expiring upon the earlier of termination of employment or July 31, 2019. Mr. Abernathy's remaining rights to purchase 710 shares of the Company's common stock were forfeited upon his retirement from the Company. ( 2 )Shares surrendered in connection with the exercise of Non-Qualified Stock Option shares. ( 3 )On March 16, 2017, the grant date of certain PRSUs and SARs were incorrectly reported as March 14, 2017, rather than March 3, 2017. ( 4 )Exercise of SARs upon retirement. ( 5 )This total reflects routine accumulation of 98,579.3884 common shares acquired through the Company's 401(K) benefit plan as of May 29, 2018, based on internal records. ( 6 )These shares vested and became fully exercisable upon Mr. Abernathy's retirement. ( 7 )Exercise of SARs which became fully vested upon Mr. Abernathy's retirement.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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