Mary Jo Darden

Mary Jo Darden, 88, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 on Midland, Texas. She had been in declining health due to complications from hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and vascular dementia.

She was born on June 29, 1927 in Waxahachie, Texas to Mary Roy Lane and Dr. Ford Lane into a life rich in musical and vaudevillian tradition. She grew up tap dancing and singing duets with her father and his fellow performers. On her mother’s side of the family, she was the granddaughter of the Ellis County sheriff and had many stories about spending the night in jail (in the sheriff’s apartment).

She attended elementary and middle school in Waxahachie, but spent her senior year at Dublin High School in Dublin, Texas, graduating with the class of 1944. Mary Jo began college at Hill Junior College in Hillsboro, Texas where her father was a teacher and band director. She then went to Trinity University in San Antonio and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music in 1946 from Sam Houston State Teacher’s College. She earned her Master’s Degree in Voice (MMA) from Southwestern Conservatory of Arts in 1947.

While at Hill Junior College she met Jack Darden, and after his return from serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, they were married at her parent’s home in Waxahachie on September 4, 1948.

After Jack’s graduation from Texas Tech in 1949 and subsequent employment as a Petroleum Geologist with The Texas Company, they led the nomadic life of a geologist in Centreville, Mississippi; Clinton, Louisiana; San Diego, California (the Navy again); Perryton, Canadian, and Abilene, Texas before finally landing in Midland in April of 1957.

Jack, Jr. was born in Mississippi, Amy and Roy in Abilene, and Michael, Paul, and Pat in Midland.

Early on (before the kids came along) Mary Jo taught ballet and tap dancing, and gave music lessons in her home while raising her six kids. After all of her children were of school age she was a substitute teacher, often teaching music.

She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, the 1971-72 PTA President for Fannin Elementary, awarded a Lifetime Membership in the Texas Council of Teachers and Parents in 1968, and in 1974-75 was the first Vice President of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers for the Midland City Council. In 1974 she began a career as a CLEW Evaluator for MHMR in Midland until 1982.

She was a past President of Texaco Wives and a Board Member of the Permian Basin Geological and Geophysical Auxiliary. Mary Jo was Secretary of Midland Downtown Lion Tamers in 1982 and President in the 1982-83 term.

She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and researching genealogy. Some of her happiest times were spent at “La Casa Con El Cielo Alto”, her cabin in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father and one great grandson.

She is survived by her husband of 67 1/2 years Jack Darden, Sr.; son, Jack Darden, Jr. of Midland; daughter; Amy Paschich and husband Bob of El Paso; son, Roy and wife Carol of The Woodlands; son, Michael and wife Judy of Houston; son, Paul and wife Rebecca of Sundown; son, Pat and wife Lynn of Midland and 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and her surviving cousins, Jimmy Roy and Maxine Prindle.

Serving as pall bearers will be her six children. Honorary pall bearers will be the MMH Auxiliary Pink Ladies.

Great thanks are due to her caregivers over the past few months: Jack Darden, Sr., Diana Aguirre, and Janiece Berry.

Memorial contributions can be directed to Midland Memorial Hospital Auxiliary at [email protected]

Mary Jo spent her last days in Midland Memorial Hospital, but it was far from a foreign place to her. She is a Life Member of the Midland Memorial Hospital Auxiliary with 11, 898 hours of service. She watched over the Critical Care Waiting Room giving guidance and care to those concerned about their friends and loved ones during those trying times. She served as Auxiliary President from 1989-90 and again in 2002-03. She served as Nursing Scholarship Chairman from 1986-2003!

Always the nurturer, she faced her trials with dignity, compassion, and concern for others.

From this day forward, for as long as we live, we will always remember you.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 1701 N. Main, Midland, Texas.