Nancy Gill Darrah

Nancy Gill Darrah passed away peacefully in her home, located in Lake Jackson, Texas, on September 26, 2025.

Nancy was born in Charleston, West Virginia on October 3, 1953 to B. Stanley Gill and Elizabeth Ann Seitz Gill. Charleston was her home until she graduated from George Washington High School. She went on to attend Marshall University and West Virginia University, and then later returned to Charleston, where she soon met David Darrah. They became wed in Charleston on November 24, 1979.

Nancy’s career history included working for Spilman Thomas and Battle law firm as a receptionist, and later worked at the Children’s Museum in Charleston where she scheduled and led tours. She cherished her time at the Children’s Museum because she greatly enjoyed working with children.

In 1990, she left Charleston for Houston, alongside her husband, where their son Nicholas Gill Darrah, was born. Shortly after Nick’s birth, the Darrah's moved to Rockport, Texas, where they resided briefly. Despite falling in love with Rockport, they moved back to Charleston that same year. Two years later, they had the opportunity to return to the Rockport area and bought a home in City By The Sea. This is where they would raise Nick until 2001, when they would decide to make the move to Lake Jackson, Texas. Since 2001, they frequently return to City By The Sea for weekends, holidays, and vacation, as this was Nancy’s favorite place to be. She would sit on her balcony overlooking the canals and observe the goings on of the neighborhood, or read a book, being content as long as she was close to the water.

Nancy traveled to see her family and friends on many trips to Oklahoma, Kentucky, Charleston and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, as this was her best pastime. She loved a good road trip, and especially loved staying in hotels, where she would make her room her home away from home, often becoming teary eyed when it came time to leave, no matter how simple or elaborate the accommodations. She was always thrilled to spend time at her sister’s farm in Kentucky. As much as she loved the Texas coast, she never lost her love of green mountains and the creeks and hollers she had grown up surrounded by. One only needed to mention West Virginia to give Nancy a wistful glint in her eye, and you knew her mind was on her first home.

Nancy never met anyone who wasn’t a friend she hadn’t met yet. When her son was growing up, she welcomed his friends to her home for conversation and treats. Some of Nick’s friends came to call her Momma D, as she became a mother figure for so many. Her presence was always warm, and her door was always open, she would laugh with you in good times, and offer understanding if you were troubled.

The Darrah family expanded when her son was married in 2016 to Courtney, and again when she became “Granny” in 2017 after Benjamin was born. Her grandson could do no wrong in her eyes, and she adored him as only a grandmother could.

She loved her family, loved her friends and especially loved her grandson, but Nancy also gave people pure love whether relatives, friends, or the lady she happened to meet in a Walmart parking lot.

Nancy is survived by her husband, David Darrah, her son Nicholas Gill Darrah, daughter-in-law Courtney Hildebrandt Darrah, grandson Benjamin Darrah, sister Margie Gill, aunt Nancy Martin, cousin Andrew Martin and cousin Lisa Martin Davis.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Nancy at 2pm, November 10 at the Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Rockport, Texas.

Nancy’s love of animals was a big part of her life. The family requests donations to the Humane Society of Rockport/Fulton (https://rockportfultonhumanesociety.org/) in lieu of flowers.