Daryll D. Dorman

To Daryll D. Dorman, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Daryll, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Daryll really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

His parents were Oscar and Willa Dorman. Daryll was born in Flemington, Mo and raised in Flemington, Mo and Santa Paula, CA. Even as a child, Daryll had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Daryll was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Daryll managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Daryll was raised with three siblings. He had two younger sisters, Jeanne and Betty, and a younger brother, Don.

All of Daryll's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Daryll experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in horseback riding and basketball. In his spare time he liked hunting and horseback trick riding. Daryll's memorable achievements included singing "Ole Shep" as a solo.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Daryll was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Daryll simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Daryll, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Daryll's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Daryll graduated from Santa Paula High School. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Music and Art. One of Daryll's memorable accomplishments during high school was scoring the winning basket at a basketball game.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Daryll very easy to approach. On September 22, 1949 Daryll exchanged wedding vows with Oleva Jean Wainwright at home in Santa Paula, CA. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Daryll related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Daryll was blessed with three children, Don, Deva and Daryll. He was also blessed with seven grandchildren, Brandon, Daryll, Jason, Shelby, Trevor, Dylan and Kassy. Daryll had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Daryll's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Daryll had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Daryll was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Daryll liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Daryll was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Daryll's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Daryll as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a business owner of an automotive shop. He was the owner of D's Automotive and self-employed for 34 years.

Daryll was an Navy veteran. He served on a U.S. Navy supply ship in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Daryll saw action for World War II. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Seaman 1st Class.

Daryll enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Daryll liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were cars, church, family, friends, singing, and playing the guitar. Daryll was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Daryll felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Daryll loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Daryll relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Daryll never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Daryll played basketball. Daryll was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football, baseball, and car races.

Daryll had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Daryll's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. Throughout his later years, Daryll was an active member of the Campbell Church of Christ.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Daryll recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of the Campbell Church of Christ for 50 years. During that time, he was a Deacon and participated in several church activities and programs.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Daryll was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Daryll was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included receiving the top dealership awards from various oil companies.

Living life in the fast lane suited Daryll just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included camping and boating trips.

Daryll was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Daryll's favorites was Onions, his first horse. His family was rounded out by his dogs, FeFe, Shorty, Buster, and several cats.

Daryll believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1992, Daryll took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to San Jose, California. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Daryll remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in taking care of his grandchildren. Even in retirement, Daryll continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Daryll passed away on June 26, 2010 at home in San Jose, California. Daryll fought a brave battle against Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Oleva Dorman; his children Don Dorman, Deva Spaeth, and Daryll Dorman; and his grandchildren Brandon, Daryll, Jason, Shelby, Trevor, Dylan and Kassy. Services were held at Campbell Church of Christ in Campbell, California. Daryll was laid to rest in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.

Daryll brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Daryll D. Dorman lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.