Darrel Deene Hornsby

1919 - 2012

Darrel Deene Hornsby, Sr., age 93, passed away January 28, 2012, in Texarkana, Arkansas. Darrel was born on May 21, 1919, in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Margaret and Duke Hornsby. He grew up in Montoya, New Mexico where his mother, Margaret (Maggie), managed the Montoya Hotel and he and his father, Duke and brother, Neil put together the family ranch south for Montoya.
Darrel graduated from Tucumcari High School in 1938 and then enrolled at the School of Mines at El Paso. Texas.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served his country proudly as a B-17 bomber pilot with the 8th Air Force in Europe. Darrel was shot down on his 29th mission over Germany and spent the last part of the war (13 months) in a German prisoner of war camp. He later served with the 98th Bomb group in Korea. He was discharged in 1952 with many metals, including the Distinguished Air Cross, the Purple Heart and the rank of Captain.
Darrel was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on February 22, 1980, in Montezuma Lodge #1 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a 32nd degree Mason and among many of his accomplishments, he served as Master in 1988 and District Grand Master in 1989 and 1990, Grand Illustrious Master of the Grand Council Royal and select Master of New Mexico in 1992.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Henrietta; grandson, Jimmy Doyle; brother, Neil Hornsby; parents, Margaret and Duke Hornsby, and stepdaughter, Judy Birkey.
He has three children, Margaret Tompkins of Tucumcari, Darrel Jr. (Sheila) of Arkansas and Joye Clubine (Jerry) and stepdaughter, Joan Conley of Tucumcari. He also has 5 grandchildren, Shawn T. Beall (Lori) of Shreveport, Louisiana, Shelly Brockman (Clint) of Tucumcari, Devin Beall of Nebraska, Eric Hornsby (US Border Patrol) of Arizona, and Katrina Hornsby of Texarkana, Arkansas; great grandchildren are Brittni Brockman of Tucumcari, PFC Tyson Beall US Marine Corp. of Pennsylvania, Kylea and Kelsea Beall Chelsea (Carlsbad, New Mexico), Chad and Tatum Beall of Shreveport, Louisiana.
His funeral will be in Santa Fe in the National Cemetery where Henrietta is buried.
He was a beloved daddy, granddad, and great granddad. He will be greatly missed.