Darla Kay Smiley

Darla Kay (Hackney) Smiley passed away on Friday, November 6, 2026, following a brief illness. She was born on April 6, 1950, to Walter and Francis Hackney in Lubbock, where she was a lifelong resident. As a charter member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church, Darla built a life deeply rooted in her faith and the community she called home. She graduated from Monterey High School and later attended Texas Tech University, where she earned her degree.

On December 20, 1969, she married the love of her life, Samuel Clay Smiley. Together, they shared 52 years of marriage, building a life centered around their family. He preceded her in death on September 4, 2022. Her family takes comfort in knowing that after their time apart, they are together once again.

She devoted an extraordinary 55 years of service to the State of Texas, where she assisted with providing training and employment opportunities to people with disabilities. Her tenure demonstrated her dedication, loyalty, and strong work ethic. One of the greatest gifts of her career was the dear friends she made along the way.

She was a generous and thoughtful person who consistently put the needs of others before her own. She cared deeply for her family and found her greatest joy in those she loved. She especially adored her daughters and granddaughters. She rarely missed an opportunity to support them and took great pride in attending their school programs, sporting events, and other activities. Being their mother and grandmother was one of the greatest joys of her life. Another joy was attending Jazzercise, where she could stay active, have fun, and build lasting relationships.

She is survived by her daughters, Melanie (Donald) Cristan, and Melissa (Scott) Attaway; her beloved granddaughters, Lainey and Evyn Cristan; and her sister, Janice Gott, along with extended family and friends who will miss her dearly.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, November 10, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and a service to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, November 11, at 2:00 p.m. Both will be held at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to any animal welfare organization, honoring her memory and extraordinary love for animals.

She was deeply loved, will be greatly missed, and will forever remain in the hearts of her family and friends.