Frank Lacy Darnell Sr.

Visitation for Frank will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard St., Denison, TX 75020.

Services will be held at 10:00 A. M., Thursday, June 3, 2010 at Bratcher Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Allen Snider officiating. Pallbearers will be Delbert Chappell, Jerry Easter, Otis Higginbothan, Stan Keese, Gene Ramey & Tom Redwine. Burial will follow at Cedarlawn Memorial Park, 5805 Texoma Parkway, Sherman, TX 75090.

Frank was born in Denison, Texas on November 16, 1918, the son of Lacy Darnell and Sally Lee Harris Darnell. He lived his entire life as a Denisonian. He began his entrepreneurship in 1939, when he opened his first service station on the corner of N. Houston and Morton Street. Later, in 1950, he entered the real estate business. From 1954-1980, he was active as a builder and developer of homes and businesses in Denison and Grayson County. He was the owner of Darnell Real Estate for 48 years.

Frank was an active leader and participant in community clubs and activities throughout his lifetime, including Denison Chamber of Commerce, serving as their president in 1956. He was a member of the Billie Mosse Lodge, as well as the Hella Temple Shriners for over 60 years. Active in the Lions Club since 1952, serving as their president in 1957-58, active in Goodfellows program for 45 years, and for 16 years was responsible for all Goodfellows deliveries of toys and groceries.

In 1982, in recognition of his untiring service, Frank received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the highest honor conferred by Lions Clubs International Foundation, earned by financial sponsorship and humanitarian service.

Frank is survived by his son, Frank L. Darnell, Jr. and his daughter, Linda (Linn) Lott and husband, W. H. (Dub) Lott; six grandchildren, Darryl Darnell, Karen Thompson, Sharon Melton, Mark Burkes, Vicki Byrd and Laura Craig; eight great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and one sister, Lilly Kernan of New Jersey. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dorothy Darnell; three brothers, Preston Darnell, Marvin Darnell and Ralph Darnell and one sister, Melba Burton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Heart to Heart Hospice, 1500 Waters Ridge Drive, Suite 100, Lewisville, TX 75057 or the Alzheimers Association Capital of Texas, 3429 Executive Center Drive #100, Austin, TX 78731

Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard Street, Denison, Texas 75020. For further information, please call the funeral home at (903) 465–2323, or for an online obituary, directions or to leave a condolence, please go to www.bratcherfuneralhome.com