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E. J. ”Jeff” Darden
05/01/1932 — 02/13/2005
From West, Richland, WA, US | Born in Summit, Arkansas
E. J. ”Jeff” Darden
E. J. ''Jeff'' Darden, born 5/1/1932 in Arkansas, passed away at Kadlec Hosp. surrounded by his loved ones on 2/13/2005.
Jeff was born in Summit Ark. and moved to Yakima in 1942. He moved to Richland in the early 50's and joined the Army in 1952. Jeff served 3 yrs. in the Army during the Korean war and was a sergeant with the Army Security Agency stationed in Germany.
Upon his return home, he met and married Barbara, his wife of 46 yrs. They lived in Richland where Jeff owned and operated a Phillips 66 gas station on the corner of Lee and Jadwin with a faithful clientele of customers who still remember his honesty and helpfulness.
Jeff, Barbara and their 4 kids moved to W. Richland in 1972 where Jeff designed and built their home from foundation to roof.
Jeff owned a family-run Plumbing & Irrigation store in W. Richland and enjoyed designing cost-effective irrigation systems. He was a charismatic man who loved interacting with people and always offered help and advice to those in need.
He was a master at welding, carpentry and modifying. If he couldn't fix it, he learned how. Jeff retired in 1976 and enjoyed time with his wife and kids camping, fishing, motor cycling and traveling to visit extended family.
Although officially retired, Jeff retained a work shop. This allowed him to continue to enjoy carpentry, welding and special projects for family while maintaining the upkeep for his rental properties. Jeff's dog/best buddy Zack was his constant companion and gave him great joy.
Jeff will be deeply missed by his family for his heartfelt love, enduring faith, laughter, integrity, immense knowledge and infallible advice.
Jeff was preceded in death by his father Lewis, mother Eva, brother Delbert and sister Mary Griffin.
He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, sister Mella Gilley, brother Jim Judy Darden; sons Dan Darden and Jerome Grace Darden; daughters Diane Cory Mceachern and Julie Michael Surmeyer; grandkids Jacob, Brandon, Jaymie, Jory, Tera, Christy, Samantha, Jesse, John, Elizabeth; niece Janice Rick Slater; nephews Don Rinda Darden, Martin Gilley, Jeffrey Karen Gilley, Randy and Jody Darden.
Grave side services will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland at 2 pm on 2/19/2005.
In memoriam to Jeff, please mark May 1 Jeffs birthday on your Calendar each year to remind yourself or a loved one to have an annual physical exam.
My fondest memories as a child? Camping with our family off the beaten path so we could see the brightness of the stars, teaching me to fish and not getting upset when I snagged my line for the 100th time, planting a seed of faith in his children when we were small, when each night he would kneel down and recite the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer that gave me a child’s sense of comfort that God was watching over our family. On his precious time off work, he loved to take our family camping and showed us the beauty of nature. He taught me to fish baiting and tying my own lines that endures to this day as I take my own children salmon fishing on the Columbia River. All through my life my Dad encouraged me to treat others as I would wish to be treated. He told me that if I lived each day with integrity and pride, giving 100 percent to any job I accomplished, I could lay my head down at night with a clear conscience, and that, more than any other lesson, has given me many nights of peaceful rest. God gave me 41 years with my Dad. Too few, but enough to help me recognize and marry a man that emulates the best qualities of my father. My Dad was the kind of man that trusted people and shared his immense knowledge and help without reservation. I believe this attitude brought out the best in people, which is why so many looked to him for guidance and advice. My Dad encouraged me in High School to take wood shop and welding, because he believed that knowledge was not gender specific. He taught any who wished to learn because knowledge was a life-long process of self discovery and a gift that should not be wasted on idleness. For those that knew him, I am sure you are a better person for it. For those that didn’t, his legacy lives on through his family and the people’s lives that he touched. I have lost a father, advisor and friend and I will miss him dearly. He forgot more than I will ever know, but I am grateful to God that I was given 41 years with my Dad.
Julie Darden Surmeyer
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E. J. ”Jeff” Darden