Russell Lee Darst, was born in Pike County, Indiana on August 4, 1940. He departed this life, September 15, 2020, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty years.
On March 30, 1963, he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Barbara Ann Sloan. Together they shared fifty-seven years of love and wonderful memories, while raising their three sons, Randall Lee, David Edward and John Anthoney.
Russell served our country in the United States Army as a supply handler and in security police until his honorable discharge while stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was employed with Gene Smith Used Cars, McClanahan Used Cars, S.P. Gas Company, Independent Stave and Bel-Air Drive In. He was known as “Big Daddy” to all car dealer and automobile auction places. Russell and Barbara also owned and operated R&B clean up shop in Lebanon for several years, cleaning cars for the local car dealers and individuals.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; three sons, Randy Darst and his wife Melissa and David Darst all of Lebanon, MO and John Darst and his wife Tonya of Stoutland, MO; one brother, Bill Darst and his wife Ruthie; two sisters, Sue Collins and Bonnie Fields, all of the state of Ohio; six grandchildren, Dustin Lee, Mackenzie Dawn, Kaitlyn Nicole, Brandon Austin, Zachary Allen, and Alexander Lee Darst; one great-granddaughter, Kinsley Dawn Darst; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Edward Darst and Neomia Mary Darst Abear; two sisters, Patricia Davis and Barbara Sowards; and one grandson, Dillon Giles Darst.
Memorials have been suggested to the Darst family and donations may be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948 or 1001 N. Lynn, Lebanon, MO 65536.
♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫
THE RECORDING OF A CEMETERY BY THELMA GREENE REAGAN
Today we walked where others walked
On a lonely, windswept hill.
Today we talked where others cried
For loved ones whose lives are stilled.
Today our hearts were touched
By graves of tiny babies
Snatched from the arms of loving kin
In the heartbreak of the ages.
Today we saw where GRANDPARENTS lay
In the last sleep of their time
Lying under the trees and clouds
Their beds kissed by the sun and wind.
Today we wondered about an unmarked spot
Who lies beneath this hollowed ground?
Was it a babe, child, young or old?
No indication could be found.
Today we saw where MOM and DAD lay
We had been here once before
On a day we'd all like to forget
But will remember forever more.
Today we recorded for kith and kin
The graves of ancestors past
To be preserved for generations hence
A record we hope will last.
Cherish it, my friend; preserve it, my friend,
For stones sometimes crumble to dust
And generations of folks yet to come
Will be grateful for your trust.
On March 30, 1963, he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Barbara Ann Sloan. Together they shared fifty-seven years of love and wonderful memories, while raising their three sons, Randall Lee, David Edward and John Anthoney.
Russell served our country in the United States Army as a supply handler and in security police until his honorable discharge while stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was employed with Gene Smith Used Cars, McClanahan Used Cars, S.P. Gas Company, Independent Stave and Bel-Air Drive In. He was known as “Big Daddy” to all car dealer and automobile auction places. Russell and Barbara also owned and operated R&B clean up shop in Lebanon for several years, cleaning cars for the local car dealers and individuals.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; three sons, Randy Darst and his wife Melissa and David Darst all of Lebanon, MO and John Darst and his wife Tonya of Stoutland, MO; one brother, Bill Darst and his wife Ruthie; two sisters, Sue Collins and Bonnie Fields, all of the state of Ohio; six grandchildren, Dustin Lee, Mackenzie Dawn, Kaitlyn Nicole, Brandon Austin, Zachary Allen, and Alexander Lee Darst; one great-granddaughter, Kinsley Dawn Darst; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Edward Darst and Neomia Mary Darst Abear; two sisters, Patricia Davis and Barbara Sowards; and one grandson, Dillon Giles Darst.
Memorials have been suggested to the Darst family and donations may be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948 or 1001 N. Lynn, Lebanon, MO 65536.
♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫
THE RECORDING OF A CEMETERY BY THELMA GREENE REAGAN
Today we walked where others walked
On a lonely, windswept hill.
Today we talked where others cried
For loved ones whose lives are stilled.
Today our hearts were touched
By graves of tiny babies
Snatched from the arms of loving kin
In the heartbreak of the ages.
Today we saw where GRANDPARENTS lay
In the last sleep of their time
Lying under the trees and clouds
Their beds kissed by the sun and wind.
Today we wondered about an unmarked spot
Who lies beneath this hollowed ground?
Was it a babe, child, young or old?
No indication could be found.
Today we saw where MOM and DAD lay
We had been here once before
On a day we'd all like to forget
But will remember forever more.
Today we recorded for kith and kin
The graves of ancestors past
To be preserved for generations hence
A record we hope will last.
Cherish it, my friend; preserve it, my friend,
For stones sometimes crumble to dust
And generations of folks yet to come
Will be grateful for your trust.
Russell Lee Darst, was born in Pike County, Indiana on August 4, 1940. He departed this life, September 15, 2020, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty years.
On March 30, 1963, he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Barbara Ann Sloan. Together they shared fifty-seven years of love and wonderful memories, while raising their three sons, Randall Lee, David Edward and John Anthoney.
Russell served our country in the United States Army as a supply handler and in security police until his honorable discharge while stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was employed with Gene Smith Used Cars, McClanahan Used Cars, S.P. Gas Company, Independent Stave and Bel-Air Drive In. He was known as “Big Daddy” to all car dealer and automobile auction places. Russell and Barbara also owned and operated R&B clean up shop in Lebanon for several years, cleaning cars for the local car dealers and individuals.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; three sons, Randy Darst and his wife Melissa and David Darst all of Lebanon, MO and John Darst and his wife Tonya of Stoutland, MO; one brother, Bill Darst and his wife Ruthie; two sisters, Sue Collins and Bonnie Fields, all of the state of Ohio; six grandchildren, Dustin Lee, Mackenzie Dawn, Kaitlyn Nicole, Brandon Austin, Zachary Allen, and Alexander Lee Darst; one great-granddaughter, Kinsley Dawn Darst; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Edward Darst and Neomia Mary Darst Abear; two sisters, Patricia Davis and Barbara Sowards; and one grandson, Dillon Giles Darst.
Memorials have been suggested to the Darst family and donations may be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948 or 1001 N. Lynn, Lebanon, MO 65536.
♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫
THE RECORDING OF A CEMETERY BY THELMA GREENE REAGAN
Today we walked where others walked
On a lonely, windswept hill.
Today we talked where others cried
For loved ones whose lives are stilled.
Today our hearts were touched
By graves of tiny babies
Snatched from the arms of loving kin
In the heartbreak of the ages.
Today we saw where GRANDPARENTS lay
In the last sleep of their time
Lying under the trees and clouds
Their beds kissed by the sun and wind.
Today we wondered about an unmarked spot
Who lies beneath this hollowed ground?
Was it a babe, child, young or old?
No indication could be found.
Today we saw where MOM and DAD lay
We had been here once before
On a day we'd all like to forget
But will remember forever more.
Today we recorded for kith and kin
The graves of ancestors past
To be preserved for generations hence
A record we hope will last.
Cherish it, my friend; preserve it, my friend,
For stones sometimes crumble to dust
And generations of folks yet to come
Will be grateful for your trust.
On March 30, 1963, he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Barbara Ann Sloan. Together they shared fifty-seven years of love and wonderful memories, while raising their three sons, Randall Lee, David Edward and John Anthoney.
Russell served our country in the United States Army as a supply handler and in security police until his honorable discharge while stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was employed with Gene Smith Used Cars, McClanahan Used Cars, S.P. Gas Company, Independent Stave and Bel-Air Drive In. He was known as “Big Daddy” to all car dealer and automobile auction places. Russell and Barbara also owned and operated R&B clean up shop in Lebanon for several years, cleaning cars for the local car dealers and individuals.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; three sons, Randy Darst and his wife Melissa and David Darst all of Lebanon, MO and John Darst and his wife Tonya of Stoutland, MO; one brother, Bill Darst and his wife Ruthie; two sisters, Sue Collins and Bonnie Fields, all of the state of Ohio; six grandchildren, Dustin Lee, Mackenzie Dawn, Kaitlyn Nicole, Brandon Austin, Zachary Allen, and Alexander Lee Darst; one great-granddaughter, Kinsley Dawn Darst; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Edward Darst and Neomia Mary Darst Abear; two sisters, Patricia Davis and Barbara Sowards; and one grandson, Dillon Giles Darst.
Memorials have been suggested to the Darst family and donations may be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948 or 1001 N. Lynn, Lebanon, MO 65536.
♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♫♫♫
THE RECORDING OF A CEMETERY BY THELMA GREENE REAGAN
Today we walked where others walked
On a lonely, windswept hill.
Today we talked where others cried
For loved ones whose lives are stilled.
Today our hearts were touched
By graves of tiny babies
Snatched from the arms of loving kin
In the heartbreak of the ages.
Today we saw where GRANDPARENTS lay
In the last sleep of their time
Lying under the trees and clouds
Their beds kissed by the sun and wind.
Today we wondered about an unmarked spot
Who lies beneath this hollowed ground?
Was it a babe, child, young or old?
No indication could be found.
Today we saw where MOM and DAD lay
We had been here once before
On a day we'd all like to forget
But will remember forever more.
Today we recorded for kith and kin
The graves of ancestors past
To be preserved for generations hence
A record we hope will last.
Cherish it, my friend; preserve it, my friend,
For stones sometimes crumble to dust
And generations of folks yet to come
Will be grateful for your trust.
