Obituary – Darrell Woodson
February 4, 1941 - March 20, 2025
by Covill Funeral Home
April 3, 2025
Darrell, born in Eugene, Oregon, grew up in Cottage Grove, Oregon. As a young man, he was a Boy Scout & a DeMolay.
Darrell played football & ran track in high school & loved fishing & hunting. With his dad & two uncles owning Ford dealerships it didn't take long for Darrell's interest in classic cars & trucks to become an obsession. Years later, his restored vehicles won many trophies.
Darrell attended the U of O, North Pacific Dental & Medical College in Portland, Oregon, receiving a Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology in 1963. In 1966, Darrell completed a Practical Management for Independent Firms from Portland State College in Oregon.
When Darrell's boyhood friend's family moved to Pinedale, Wyoming, to cut timber, he & Darrell took an adventurous Christmas trip to Pinedale. Soon, Pinedale became Darrell's home where he married & raised his family. He joined his father-in-law at Ziegler's Hardware, became a partner, then joined True Value Hardware team as an owner. Darrell expanded the business in many different directions growing it into a very successful business. One of his favorite quotes was, "I never did anything I couldn't lose money at." Darrell sold his store twice before one took & he finally retired.
After many years his first marriage, unfortunately, ended. In 1991, during one of his visits home to see his mother in Cottage Grove, Darrell was reintroduced to a former classmate, Marquita Floyd Kling. They were married the following year in October, 1992. Unbeknownst to either Darrell or Marquita, their lives had connected years before they were born. Darrell's cousin, Jesse James Woodson, shot Marquita's maternal grandfather's dog. Her grandfather was 15 when his dog started barking at their horses, causing them to jump about, as Jesse's gang rode by. This is only one of several events that brought the two families together before they even knew each other as students in high school.
Enjoying many of the same activities, there was one in particular, traveling, at the top of the list. Each year, the two left the US spending one month visiting at least one or more foreign countries. The love of fishing took them to Alaska six times. On their last trip, Darrell was successful in getting a beautiful 5-year-old Black Bear, out of Valdez, the largest for his friend & guide in three years.
Darrell passed away at the age of 84 after a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl & Juanita Woodson, and his brother-in-law & sister Clay & Cheryl Zumwalt. Darrell is survived by his wife of nearly 33 years, Marquita Woodson; daughter Laura Gail Kelly; grandsons Ian L. & Tucker B. Kelly; son & daughter-in-law Craig Earl & Lynne Woodson; stepson & wife Cameron S. & Mechie L. Kling; & stepdaughter & husband Linda L. & Jeffrey Estrin.
Throughout Darrell's long illness he continued being strong-minded. His English humor was always there keeping it light. And, as the months rolled by, Darrell was always a Gentleman.
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