For everyone who didn't get a chance to come one of my dad's services (or if you just want to read again), here is my eulogy for my dad.
RIP Dad- I love you!
First, I want to start off by thanking everybody for coming today to support myself, my mother, my family, and of course to be here to remember my dad. I want to thank everyone for their calls, text messages, and overall show of support for us this past week- it's meant a lot and has helped us through this difficult time.
My dad, Richard Karl Darkey Jr., was born May 24, 1957 in Battle Creek Michigan to Richard and Pat Darkey. He was the oldest of five children- with his siblings Linda, Jerry, Chuck, and David.
As a kid my dad was a Boy Scout, and my grandpa was even his scout leader for a number of years. He continued his dedication to scouting well into his adult years as a scout leader for our church's Boy Scout troop in Kalamazoo, MI.
Also, growing up he loved comic books- which is a love he shared with his brother Jerry. (On a side note- if anyone knows a good way to sell old comic books, please talk to me after the service). Additionally, that love the comics grew into a love of all comic movies and TV shows. Batman, Superman, Iron Man- he loved them all.
My dad was also a high school athlete- doing wrestling and cross country. I remember in junior high finding his old high school letter-man jacket and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world- I even considered making a "high school sweetheart" Halloween costume using that jacket.
My dad graduated from Bellevue high school in Bellevue Michigan in 1976. After finishing high school he went to Lansing Community College where he met my mom- Mary.
I remember my mom telling me the story about how he asked her out... They were in a class together, they to got talking, and she had mentioned she worked at a local daycare. However maybe my dad was too nervous but instead of just asking her out in person, he found the phone number of the daycare center and asked her out over the phone. At the time she told me the story I was in college and I said to her "mom, that's what you call a stalker". However there must have been something about my dad she really liked because they were married in less than a year on December 15, 1979 in Parma Michigan.
Right after they were married, they continue to live in Lansing for a few years and then moved to Kalamazoo which is where they decided to start their family.
On December 11, 1985, they welcomed me into the world. My dad was very excited to have a little girl because just a few weeks before I was born a good friend from our church had a little girl as well. When my dad saw his friend holding his baby girl, my dad was excited to have his own "daddy's little girl" too. After a few more years, my sister Karen was born December 29, 1989 and our little family was complete!
My dad was always such a hard-working man. He never had an easy job and he's had many of them over the years. From a factory worker, to a custodian, to working for Kmart on an overnight shift and as a shoe manager, and to his most recent job as a drivers helper for Dunkin' Donuts.
Even though he worked hard he also knew how to enjoy life. He always enjoyed taking his girls out for dinner and movies- and he even would happily go to see the newest "chick flick" if we wanted.
Also, he was very dedicated to the church. We would always go every Sunday as a family even if he had just gotten off a long night shift at Kmart. He loved to be involved with the church- between volunteering to be liturgist, singing in the choir, and even being in the church custodian for a number of the years- it always was a big part of his life.
As us girls got older, sometimes we didn't want to get up early to go to church but dad always found a way to convince us to go – it typically involved a fresh box of donuts.For my sister who was more reluctant to get out of bed, he would go up to her and say "Karen, I got donuts... mmm... donuts... donuts!". Our love of sweets was definitely inherited from our father.
My dad's life wasn't always sunshine and rainbows. As a man, he went through few really rough years. However, even in the hardest years of his life, he never lost his faith in god and always kept smiling. That was the thing about my dad, he always try to see the positive side of things even if there wasn't much positive to see.
People have asked us, "Was he sick?". The answer is "No", but the writing was on the wall. It was 4 years ago (almost to the day of his passing), he gave us the biggest scare of our lives and had a heart attack 2 weeks before my wedding. I remember seeing him in the ICU and thinking my dad wasn't going to be able to walk me down the aisle.
It was one of the scariest times in our lives; but he bounced back with full focus. During our father- daughter dance, he was spinning me around so much on the dance floor I had to tell him to slow down because I didn't want to see my dinner come up and hit the floor. (But that would have made for a good story.)
Ever since then, my dad was living life to its fullest with all the excitement of other major events in our family lives. In the past 4 years he got to see my sister graduate from beauty school, the birth of my son Sammy Jay, and got to attend my sister's wedding.
And in his final full day here on this earth, I know his life was filled with joy and happiness, just because he got to enjoy spending the whole day with my mom and Sammy Jay. Being a grandpa was something my dad treasured, and I know even though he's not with us physically- he'll continued to enjoy watching Sammy grow up from afar.
Dad-
I love you. Even if I never said those words enough- I truly do. Please know that anytime I see Dunkin' Donuts, eat at a buffet, or watch a comic-book movie, I will be thinking of you. Also, as my son grows up, I hope that he keeps his love of smiling and making people happy- like you did for us and so for many!
Love you!
~Stacy
