Darrel D. Abbey

Darrel D. Abbey, 94, of Kiowa, Colorado, passed away peacefully at home on February 2, 2026, surrounded by family. A lifelong Coloradan, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and cornerstone of the Kiowa community, Darrel’s life was defined by resilience, service, humor, and an unbreakable partnership with his beloved wife of 71 years, Shirley Ann Abbey.

Darrel was born June 17, 1931, on the Gannon Ranch south of Elizabeth to Lester Frederick Abbey and Faye Charlotte (Dunker) Abbey. Born during the Depression and the drought, he grew up learning grit early - feeding cattle with chopped soapweed roots, surviving the 1935 flood, and watching his father work tirelessly to support the family. His childhood took him across Elizabeth, Kiowa, Englewood, and Denver, where he attended school and worked a variety of jobs. As a teenager, he “adjusted” his age to secure work at Denver General Hospital, a decision that humorously followed him for the rest of his life when dealing with Social Security.

In 1952, during the Korean Conflict, Darrel joined the United States Air National Guard, and during his service he transitioned into the newly created United States Air Force. He was activated for 21 months and served at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. During this time, he received permission to marry the love of his life, Shirley Ann Staley, and the two eloped to Raton, New Mexico, with Shirley’s mother as their witness. Their marriage became the foundation of everything that followed. To Darrel, they were full partners in every sense - in work, in family, and in life.

Darrel and Shirley welcomed their daughter Polly Ann on September 13, 1956, and their son Bruce Darrel Abbey on July 27, 1962. Becoming a father was one of the greatest joys of Darrel’s life, and he prioritized and cherished time with family and close friends.

In 1957, Darrel and Shirley purchased the Red & White store in Kiowa, later known as the Kiowa Superette. Together they ran the store for more than three decades across two separate periods of ownership. Shirley managed frozen foods and the drug section, while Darrel handled operations, hauling groceries, and the endless work of keeping a small town store thriving. They were inseparable, a team whose strengths complemented each other perfectly.

Darrel was deeply committed to the Kiowa community. He helped organize the town’s first volunteer fire department, sometimes pushing the old fire truck up the hill with his grocery truck when it couldn’t make it on its own. He played a key role in establishing Nordman Park, served on the Kiowa Town Board for 16 years, and helped launch the first Colorado Day celebration in 1976, complete with fireworks and an ice cream social that continues today. He also was instrumental in getting the senior manor established and built in Kiowa. He was a proud member of the Lions Club for 40 years and helped start the long running pancake breakfast fundraiser.

In 1972, Darrel and Shirley briefly stepped away from the grocery business to serve as the custodial team for Kiowa Schools. What began as a two week emergency project turned into four years of dedicated service to the students and staff. In 1977, they repurchased the Kiowa Superette and ran it until their retirement in 1992.

Darrel loved the outdoors and spent countless weekends camping across Colorado and the West with Shirley, their children, and later their grandchildren. He cherished time with family, supported his grandchildren in every activity, and enjoyed the simple joys of small town life. He and Shirley were rarely apart, and their partnership became a model of devotion for everyone who knew them.

Darrel was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley, his son Bruce, his parents Lester and Faye, his parents in-law Ralph and Lola Staley, his siblings Keith Abbey, LaVonne Maul, her husband Walt, as well as several cherished in laws: Joe and Ruth Staley, Wanda and Phil Tintle, Nelda and Bud Bishop, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He is survived by his daughter Polly and son in law Mike, his daughter in law Brenda, and his grandchildren Rebecca and Alaina Abbey, Daniel Rockefeller, Ashley Gelroth, her husband Will Gelroth, and his great-granddaughter Stevie Gelroth. He also leaves behind extended family, lifelong friends, and a community he served with pride for more than nine decades.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Kiowa Community Church Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be served. Darrel wanted this gathering to be a true celebration - a time for friends, neighbors, and loved ones to come together and share stories, laughter, and memories of the times they shared with him.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Darrel’s name to the Kiowa Fire Department or the Kiowa Senior Citizens. While Darrel supported many organizations over the years, he believed these two were especially impactful and often underfunded relative to the good they do for the community.