Nancy Alane Darrington

Nancy was born in Los Angeles, California to John B. and Norma Rogers. She grew up in Southern California as an only child for her first 10 years before her brother John joined their family.

In her childhood, youth and young adult years, Nancy studied piano performance and became quite accomplished. After high school, she left California for Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she majored in elementary education and also studied organ performance. She brought those two passions for education and music together for most of her adult life as an active and beloved piano teacher.

Following her college graduation, Nancy taught school in Fairfield, California. There she met her future husband, Darrell J. Darrington, and they fell in love and married. They lived happily together for 36 years until Darrell’s death in 2006. After briefly living in Fairfield and then Madera, California, they settled in Merced, where they raised their children and lived the rest of their lives. Together, they raised six children.

Nancy was a life-long educator. After her short stint teaching elementary school, she stayed at home to raise her children and taught piano lessons to hundreds of students in the Merced area over more than three decades. After her children were raised, she continued teaching piano privately and also taught English courses at Merced College for several years.

Nancy was also a life-long learner. Throughout her adult life, she regularly took classes and watched tutorials to learn new technology and skills, especially arts and crafts. She learned how to cross-stitch, knit, crochet, quilt, do calligraphy, make candles, stamp, make cards, and more, producing hundreds of beautiful gifts for family, friends, teachers, and others.

Nancy’s life was centered on her faith and her family. She was a devoted mother, supporting and encouraging her children in their many school, music, church, and athletic activities. When she became a grandmother, she loved visiting and doing things for her many grandchildren.

She was a lifelong, faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over decades, she dedicated thousands of hours as an organist and pianist to bless people in the Church, in other faiths, and in the community at large with her musical talents during worship services, weddings, funerals, performances, and other functions. In addition to these musical contributions, she also gave effective service in various Church auxiliary organizations. She played for a Church conference the weekend preceding her death, faithful to the end.

Nancy was a beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother; kind friend; devoted musician and teacher; and good Christian. She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Jerry Darrington and is survived by her mother Norma Rogers; son Joel Wesley Darrington (wife Sarah); son Jedediah John Darrington; son Jeremy Darrell Darrington (wife Ann); daughter Jennifer Lynn (Darrington) Johnson (husband Cavanaugh); son Jordan Paul Darrington; son Jacob Andrew Darrington (wife Erin); brother John Rogers; and numerous grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1080 East Yosemite Ave., Merced, with the funeral to follow at 10:00 a.m. The interment will be at Merced District Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund online at http://tinyurl.com/h6gvahq; by mail: LDS Philanthropies, 1450 N. University Ave., Provo, UT 84604; or by phone: 1-801-356-5300.

Arrangements under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, Merced, CA.