Marie Blackwell Darling

Marie Blackwell Darling was born on December 2, 1924, at home in Muldoon, Texas, to W.T. and Effie Richardson Blackwell. Marie was the youngest of four children. She attended Bethany Elementary Country school and Cistern and Flatonia High Schools. She passed away on April 9, 2024, at the age of 99. 

Marie and James F. Darling, “J. F.” as she affectionately called him, were married on July 12, 1941, by Rev. E.P. Kilburn, in the Muldoon Baptist Church. They moved to Jones Creek, Texas, Brazoria County, and lived there for 32 years where they were blessed with four daughters, Donna, Jenny, Brenda, and Rhonda.

Marie had a lifelong interest in reading and photography, but most importantly, she was involved with her family. She was a 4-H leader, helped in community projects, and sewed clothes for her four daughters. Marie was a member of the Gulf Prairie Presbyterian Church until she and her family joined the Jones Creek Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher, GA leader, and the church clerk for 17 years. After her husband, J. F. Darling, retired from Dow Chemical Company in December 1973, they moved back to Fayette County to country living, like they were raised. They had cattle and milk cows, chickens, canned food from their gardens, and processed venison. Marie again joined Muldoon Baptist Church, where she served as church clerk for two years before joining Flatonia Baptist Church where she remains a member. Here, she served as the church clerk for 19 years, taught Sunday School, and was a GA leader when her granddaughters were young. Marie served a total of 38 years as a church clerk. She served as Secretary-Treasurer and oversaw maintenance for the Cistern Public Cemetery for 28 years. During the annual Muldoon Pitman Cemetery Memorial Services, Marie had the honor of reading the Resolutions of Respect with the names of the deceased for the past year. She was presented with a beautiful plaque in May 2016 for her 40 years of devoted service. In her younger years, she enjoyed dancing and traveling. She loved the beauty of flowers, hummingbirds, geodes, and sunsets. The sounds of the ocean and the shells on the beach brought her joy, as did the majestic mountains at the National State Parks she visited. She cherished every minute she could spend chatting with her family and telling stories from her long and fulfilling life. Above all, God was first in her life and her family knew she covered them in prayer always. 

She was married to J. F. Darling for 44 years until he passed away on May 4, 1985. Marie then married Paul C. Zappe II on February 12, 1988. They were married 9 years until he passed away on December 17, 1996. Marie then met Bob Rankin in 1998, and he was her companion for 15 years until his death on January 17, 2013.

Marie is preceded in death by her parents, W.T. and Effie Blackwell; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Elsie and Hattie Darling; husband, J. F. Darling; daughter, Rhonda Kay Darling, son-in-law, Keith Simmons, and four great-grandbabies, triplets Sierra, Jaylen, and Ryleigh Crenshaw; and twin Colin Kazmir. She was also preceded in death by her beloved brother, W. R. (Roy), “son” as Marie called him, and sister-in-law, Estelle Blackwell; two sisters and their husbands, Cora Mae and C. O. Meyer; Pearl and Lonnie Mullins; husband, Paul C. Zappe II and her companion, Bobby J. Rankin. 

Marie is survived by daughter, Donna Simmons, of Huntsville, Texas; daughter, Jenny Baker of Flatonia, Texas; son-in-law, Jack Baker of Spicewood, Texas; daughter, Brenda Josselet and husband, Ron, of Weatherford, Texas; nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren: Russell Simmons and wife Dianne, of Huntsville, Texas and their children Morgan, Madison Lawson and husband Grant, and Mallory; Ty Simmons and wife, Vicki, of Keller, Texas and their children Katherine, Matthew, Isabelle, and Ethan; Leigh Baker Crenshaw and husband Steven, of Pflugerville, Texas and their children Chris, Aubree, and Amari; Jamie Baker of Flatonia, Texas and her children Ashleigh and Jamiel Samuel; Chance Baker of Conroe, Texas; Amber Josselet Kazmir and husband, Peter, of Leander, Texas and their children Drew and Ryan; Blake Josselet and wife Elicia, of Leander, Texas and their children Taylor and Evan; Natalie and Monica Rolfe of Austin, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Pallbearers are grandsons Chance Baker and Steven Crenshaw and great-grandsons Chris Crenshaw, Ryan Kazmir, Jamiel Samuel, and Evan Josselet.  

Honorary Pallbearers are Jack Baker, Ron Josselet, Russell Simmons, Ty Simmons, Blake Josselet, and Peter Kazmir. 

There will be a visitation for Marie starting at 10:30 AM at Smith Funeral Home in Flatonia on Monday, April 15, 2024 followed by a funeral service at 11:30.  Burial will be in the Pitman Cemetery in Muldoon.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy can be shared with the family at www.smithfuneraltx.com