Curtis Darden

Curtis Wayne “Sleepy” Darden, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on January 25, 2026, at the age of 81. A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Trinity Baptist Church, Haskell, Texas. Rev. Andy Hill will be officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Willow Cemetery under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes, Haskell. A visitation is planned from 6:00 to 7:00pm, Friday, January 30, 2026, at the funeral home, 304 N 2nd Street, Haskell, Texas 79521.

Born on December 7, 1944, in Haskell, Texas, to John Richard (JR) and Mary Frances (Molly) Rodges Darden, Curtis grew up to be a man known for his deep love of family, fierce patriotism, and a dry sense of humor which could take you by surprise.

After graduating from Mattson High School in 1963, he continued farming until he ventured to Oklahoma City to attend OSU Technical School for electronics. Following his graduation from OSU, he moved to Fort Worth to work for General Dynamics. Soon after, he met the love of his life, Peggy Blair, and they were married on June 8, 1968. Family was always paramount to Curtis. He was a devoted husband, a loving father to his children, Lori and Kyle. He was also a proud grandfather to Laurel and Mollie, and a doting great-grandfather to Ainsley and Mayzie Jo, who will surely miss his teasing.

A true patriot, Curtis was drafted into the United States Army on June 1, 1969. He served with honor on bases in El Paso and Ft. Sill before being shipped to Vietnam on July 10, 1970. He felt privileged to be included in the Permian Basin Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. in April of 2025. He carried love for his country throughout his life. In 1972, he began working for West Texas Utilities, where he dedicated 30 years of service, retiring when it closed in 2002.

Growing up in Mattson, Texas, fostered a love for the outdoors—he enjoyed hunting and fishing. As a young adult, he loved riding and breaking horses, rounding up cattle, and hunting wild hogs with his friends and faithful companion, Bandit.

Known for his dry wit and his fondness for giving people nicknames, Curtis was also an avid fan of Gunsmoke and a dedicated "tinkerer" who could fix almost anything. He was a faithful member of Trinity Baptist for over 50 years and served as a deacon and song leader.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, John and Molly; four brothers, Clarence, Orville, Clifford, and Glenn; two sisters, Viola Brueggeman and Margaret Bird; one sister-in-law, Jimmie Darden; and two brothers-in-law, Lewis Brueggeman and Wallace Bird.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy; children, Lori Hill (Andy Hill) of Gardendale, Texas, and Kyle Darden (Michael Sanseviro) of Kennesaw, Georgia; granddaughters,Laurel Skonberg (John Skonberg) and Mollie Clay (Zeke Clay); two great-granddaughters, Ainsley Hill and Mayzie Jo Clay; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in Curtis’ name to the Hospice of Abilene.

He was a "cowboy" at heart, a devoted servant of his church and country, and a man who loved his family above all else. He will be deeply missed.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.smithfamilyfh.com.