Darrell Durham

Darrell C. Durham, 84, Blue Springs, Mo., passed away Feb. 2, 2012, at Lee’s Summit Medical Center. He was born on Halloween night, 1927 in Kirksville, Missouri, to Lola and Darrell M. Durham. Darrell married Patricia Olsen on Christmas Day 1943, and the couple marked their 68th wedding anniversary last year. In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters Carol (Gene) Culbertson of Centerview, Diana (John) Pearsall of Oklahoma City, Debby (Jim) Lyons of Liberty and Darcy Hennessy of Gladstone, son Darrell Durham of Tucson, Az., nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is survived, as well, by his sister, Myrna Tucker of Oak Grove, and brother, John Allen of Blue Springs. He is also leaves behind his beloved Yellow Lab, Boy. Darrell was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge. Darrell joined the Merchant Marine during WWII. He worked at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant for 40 years, starting out as a tool maker and eventually became Building 10 Manager before retiring in 1991. At Lake City, he prided himself on being a precise and skilled tool and die maker, but, in fact, his aptitude for things mechanical and electrical extended to every contraption built by man. Even after Alzheimer’s Disease had robbed him of much of his astonishing intellect, he would disassemble any device within reach, even though he could no longer put it back together. Darrell was a self-taught computer whiz, voracious reader and witty conversationalist. All who knew him agreed that he was the most intelligent person they had ever known. Services will be 2 pm Wed, Feb. 8, 2012 at the Speaks Buckner Chapel, 300 Adams St. Buckner, MO. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial in Buckner Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arr: Speaks Buckner Chapel 650-5555)