Darren Millam

Darren Paul Millam was born the fourth son of James "Jim" Millam and Mary "Joan" Millam on Friday the 13th of June, 1969. The family lived north of Clinton near the rural community of Quarles. Darren attended Shawnee Mound Elementary School from Kindergarten through eighth grade, and attended high school in Clinton, graduating in 1987. In high school, Darren was heavily involved in team sports, not as a player, but as team manager, making sure that gear and supplies were ready and available when needed. He proudly wore his CHS letter jacket that he earned for his efforts. Throughout his life, Darren was a train enthusiast enjoying any opportunity to see popular and historical locomotives when possible.
Darren was also a trivia master and helped win many trivia bowl awards for CHS under the tutelage of teacher, Clell Stephenson, with whom he shared a continual friendship. After high school, Darren attended Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) where he majored in Media Communications with the hopes of becoming a sports journalist. In his time at Northeast, Darren joined the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, specializing in leadership building skills. His trivia bowl honors continued throughout his college career as well.
Darren's first job out of college was cub reporter for the Ely Times of Ely, Nevada, covering the city beat, community affairs and local sports. After a couple of years in the wild, wild west, Darren moved to Lexington, Missouri where he met and married Janet Moore while he was sports editor and writer for the Lexington newspaper. Later, daughter, Hannah Moore-Millam (now 23) was born of that union.
As a trivia master, Darren also appeared in three episodes of Jeopardy with host, Alex Trebek.
After several years and trying other various vocations and jobs, Darren found himself in Oklahoma City and stayed with some very good friends, Stephen and Angela Martin. While in OKC, Darren began a relationship with Emily Ritchie and a son, Aiden (now 9 years old) was brought into this world. Darren and Emily later moved to Indio, California, and they resided there until Darren's passing on February 24th of this year. Darren approached life with kindness and the willingness to help those in need. He even assisted a homeless man from California, helping him reunite with his family in Colorado.
Darren is survived by his father Jim Millam of Clinton, MO; daughter Hannah and her mom Janet, Blue Springs, MO; son Aiden and his mom Emily of Indio, CA; brothers, Dan (Terri) of Clinton, MO, Doug (aka Cleve) of Springfield, MO and David (Anne) of Lee's Summit, MO; several nieces, nephews and many good friends. Darren was pre-deceased by his mother (Joan) in January of 1999.
Services will be held April 29, 2023 with family visitation at 1:00 p.m. and memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Everyone please wear Chiefs apparel and black shoes to honor the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Burial will be in Vansant Road Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri, immediately following the memorial service. There will be no formal graveside service. The family welcomes contributions to his children's Special Needs Trust Fund(s) currently being established and hopefully available by the time Darren's celebration of life service takes place.