Daryl Wayne Plummer

Daryl Wayne Plummer, 58, of Clovis, California passed away on November 30, 2012 at Saint Agnes Hospital surrounded by his wife, children, and parents after a 13-month courageous battle with lung cancer.

Daryl was born on February 7, 1954 in Madera, California to parents Virgil Louis Plummer and Mary Elizabeth Plummer (North). He was the youngest of four brothers also known as the Plummer Boys: Albert, Bruce, and Curtis. Daryl attended elementary school in Madera and Auberry, middle school in Fresno, and high school in Rollin Heights, CA and Tollhouse, CA. He graduated from Sierra High School in Tollhouse, California in June 1972. Daryl met his future spouse, Reneé Michele Neal, as a senior at Sierra High School.

Daryl and Reneé were engaged to be married shortly after high school graduation. They meticulously planned their wedding and future life including purchasing their washing machine, clothes dryer, couch, end tables, and lamps before they were married, so they would be ready to live together as husband and wife. Daryl and Reneé were married on October 27, 1973 in the Auberry Community Church with Daryl’s brother, Curtis, acting as his Best Man at the wedding.

Daryl and Reneé lived in Auberry, CA after their marriage while Daryl worked at his father’s shop, Plummer’s Auto & Diesel Repair in Auberry. They moved to Fresno, California in the fall of 1974 after the birth of their son, Brian Wayne. In 1976, Daryl and Reneé completed their family with the birth of their daughter, Amy Reneé.

While working with his brother, Albert, at Peterbilt Truck Shop, Daryl attended Fresno City College at night to complete the State of California’s Journeyman Apprenticeship Program for Heavy Duty Diesel Repair. He graduated the four-year program in only three years based on his outstanding skill and professionalism.

Daryl worked at several truck dealership shops including Peterbilt, Central Valley GMC, and Kenworth. Daryl started working for Fresno County Fleet Services on July 9, 1990 until his retirement on March 18, 2011. Daryl had special mechanical ability and could fix just about anything with a motor in it. Although Daryl was a mechanic by trade, he always wanted to be a truck driver like his father, so he took a one-week vacation from his mechanic’s job to work as a truck driver with his dad at Lawson Trucking, even bringing his son to ride along with him on several trips. Daryl was so industrious that he took vacation to go to work for fun!

Daryl enjoyed spending time with his family, RVing at Pismo Coast Village, travelling, camping, fishing, building his Baja Bug, playing with his dogs, Mickey, Malcolm, Tiny, and Shelby, riding his Harley Davidson, rooting for the San Francisco 49ers and Giants, and playing with his grandchildren. Brady Wayne, Bryce John, Nathen Neil, and Avery Elizabeth. Daryl considered the greatest accomplishment of his life to be his children and grandchildren.

Daryl always provided what his family needed even if it meant “moonlighting” for extra money at night or on the weekends. He valiantly fought against his lung cancer to earn more time with his family and grandchildren. His greatest regret after learning of the diagnosis was that he wouldn’t get a chance to watch his grandchildren grow up. It pained him so much to be robbed of that time. Daryl fought long enough to spend one last birthday with his wife, Reneé, when he passed away on her birthday.

Daryl is survived by his wife of 39 years, Reneé Michele Plummer; children, Brian Wayne Plummer and spouse, Amanda, Amy Reneé Torres and spouse, Joel; his grandchildren, Brady Wayne Plummer, Bryce John Plummer, Nathen Neil Torres, and Avery Elizabeth Plummer; his parents, Virgil Louis Plummer and Mary Elizabeth Plummer; his brothers, Albert Louis Plummer and spouse Donna, Bruce Douglas Plummer and spouse Rebecca, and Curtis Neal Plummer and spouse Karen; his in-laws, Belinda Carol Neal, David Elroy Neal and spouse Rebecca Lee, and Kathleen Louise Johnson and spouse Robert and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other cherished family members that loved him dearly.

Daryl’s funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Boice Funeral Home, 308 Pollasky Ave., Clovis, CA 93612. A visitation will be held the day before on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Boice Funeral Home. After the funeral service, a memorial will be held at the Westlake Park Fresno Clubhouse, 2706 W. Ashlan Ave., Fresno, CA at 1:00 pm. If you need more information, please call Brian at 916-705-5295.

The Plummer Family extends special thanks to Dr. Rabia Parveez, M.D., Jedidiah Monson, M.D., and their staff at California Cancer Care, the nurses, nurses’ aides, and respiratory therapists at Saint Agnes Hospital including Annie, Sarah, Guia, Francisco, Christine, Ron and Laurie, and the Westlake Park Red Hat Society for all of the love, care, and support that they showed Daryl and his family.

Daryl was a kind, respectful, loving, and thoughtful provider. He was one of a kind. We will miss Daryl everyday with all of our hearts and souls, but one of his last wishes was that “we turn our lips up.” We will, Daryl…we will.