Darris Thomas McConkey

Darris Thomas McConkey, beloved husband, dad and grandpa, chose April 26 as his last day earth side. He passed away peacefully just one week after he turned 91.

Darris was the youngest of his family. A bit ornery, as illustrated by the childhood stories he shared. Like when he and a friend broke into a gas station to steal a candy bar. He felt so guilty, he broke back in and put the candy bar back. There were other shenanigans, but we have to keep this short. Integrity and honesty were important to our dad. It’s how he lived his life.

He was teaching in his hometown of Quinter when he met Roma Rae Walz. We've heard he was quite the eligible bachelor in those days. He was smitten first. She wasn’t available then, but luckily, that changed and she became smitten too! Before they settled down, he set out on a grand adventure in France where he taught during the week and explored Europe on the weekends.

As a teacher, and later a principal and superintendent, Darris made learning fun and meaningful to thousands of students. He had a special way of drawing kids into what he was teaching. He was quite the orator. He went on to serve as the Ellis County director of EMS and later retired from the Salina Parks Department. Aside from spending time with his family, he loved restoring antique cars, finding antique furniture, boating and spending time at the lake, and coming up with projects to do. There was literally nothing he couldn’t imagine or build. He always had a yellow legal pad laying around with his next plan and schematic.

He was a wonderful dad who supported every interest we had. He built gymnastics equipment in our backyard, rigged up a night ice skating rink on our frozen pond, taught us how to ride (horses) and drive (mowers, dirt bikes and cars), organized the scariest haunted house ever for our friends, spent hours on the phone explaining philosophy and so much more. And his sweet tooth was legendary - we grew up with cookies and 1 lb. bags of licorice and gummy bears around us. Life was meant to be enjoyed in his eyes!

Then he earned the title grandpa! He was so proud of each grandchild. He spent summer weeks at the lake with the biggest grandkids Gage and Gabe - he always had projects or adventures for them. The younger grandkids Cole and Paige got to enjoy special sleepovers and little trailer rides with grandpa behind his riding mower. Cole even shared his love of black licorice!

Darris was a quiet man. The kind many would call reserved. But he was busy doing what needed to be done without anyone noticing - and often that included helping others who were struggling in their lives. We learned how to be gracious and compassionate because of who our dad was.

He is missed by his adoring wife of 59 years, Roma, daughter Cristi Wightman and son-in-law Ted Wightman, daughter Darcie Reeson, grandchildren Paige Reeson, Cole Reeson and Gage Miller, his K-9 buddy Mackey, and many loving nieces and nephews. He was reunited in Heaven with his precious grandson Gabriel Thomas Wightman, who shared many of his grandpa's amazing traits, parents Ocie and Clarence McConkey, and siblings Billy, Arthena, Clarence (Junior), Jerry, Treva and Willa Dean.

A casual open house celebrating Darris’ exceptional life will be held Saturday, May 9 from 5-7 at Cedar Lake Village in Olathe, Kansas. Oreos and gummy bears will be served.