James ‘Jim’ Darnell

May 04, 2022

James “Jim” William Darnell of Waco, formerly of McGregor, passed away Thursday afternoon April 28, 2022, at the age of 91. A visitation was held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 in the Chapel of Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Dr, Woodway, TX. Another visitation was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in the Chapel of Grace Gardens Funeral Home followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. with Rev. Ken Young officiating. Interment followed in Waco Memorial Park.

Jim Darnell was born February 6, 1931, in Haskell, Texas, the son of William Henry and Dura Maylene (Pirkle) Darnell. He began working in sales at an early age and eventually owned businesses in McGregor, Waco and other locations in Texas. Mr. Darnell served on the McGregor School Board for 12 years, the Board of the Methodist Church in McGregor, the Food Pantry at the First Methodist Church in Waco, Co-Chairman of the McGregor Airport in the 1960s, joined the Masonic Lodge Masons in 1954, and the Waco Scottish Rite and Shriners in 1958. He loved family, cooking, hunting, golf, and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, June Darnell; sisters, Dorcas Walker, Eunice Helweg; brothers, Floyd Darnell, Charles Darnell, and daughter, Cathy Dixon Gilliam.

Survivors include daughters, Carol Gaboury and husband, Richard, of Wilmington, OH; Vickie Biggerstaff and husband, Alan, of Conroe, TX; Peggy Dixon Jezek of Waco, TX; sons, John Briley and wife, Lisa, of Cleburne, TX; Perry Darnell, Huntsville, TX; Jimmy Dixon and wife, Jenny, of Hewitt, TX; Billy Dixon and wife, Jackie, of Ft. Worth, TX. He was a proud granddad to 19 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandson, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
Active pallbearers were Adrian Biggerstaff, Justin Biggerstaff, Brian Townley, Evan Jezek, Tim Burke, Sean Kostohryz, and Chris Bryan. Honorary pallbearers were Dylan Jezek, Dillion Dixon and Timothy Dixon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the McGregor Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 192, McGregor, Texas 76657 or The Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas.