Reynold (Rey) Eugene Darnell passed away on August 12th, 2017 at Bryan East Community Hospital, Lincoln, NE after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. Reynold was born on August 30th, 1924 in David City, NE where he grew up on the family homestead near Garrison, NE. After graduating from high school in 1941 at the age of 16, Reynold joined the Navy where he served during WWII on board the Santa Fe, nicknamed "the Lucky Lady." Though Reynold rarely spoke of his time there, the Santa Fe earned 13 battle stars during her time of service and Reynold earned the Asiatic Pacific Medal with 7 stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 stars and a Navy Unit Citation during his service on the Sante Fe.
After the war, Reynold returned to the farm. Shortly thereafter he met his future wife, Dorothy Nadine Bourne. They were married on July 6th, 1948. They then moved to Phoenix, AZ where he attended business school. The couple moved to Valentine, NE in 1952 where Reynold was employed at Mullen Brothers Equipment, (later known as Mathis Equipment) for 39 years as a service technician, bookkeeper, parts man, and manager. After retiring from Mathis in 1991, he worked a brief time for the Soil Conservation Service, planting trees. He later drove a mail truck for the Postal Service for several years. Reynold then developed and operated the Thatcher Street Trailer Court and stayed busy gardening.
Reynold was known throughout the community for his love of fishing, his prowess with the bowling ball, canoeing down the Niobrara, and, above all, his vegetable garden, where many throughout the region benefited from the abundant fruits of his labor at the end of each growing season.
Reynold was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Lelah Darnell. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy, his brother, Leonard and sister-in-law, Darlene of Brownsdale, MN., his sons: Ronn, of Hobbs, NM., Lynn, of Strafford, NH and his wife, Donna, Gene, of Cheyenne, WY and his wife, Catherine, daughter, Joanne, of Lincoln, NE, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral service for Rey Darnell age 92 of Lincoln and formally of Valentine will be held on Friday, Aug. 18 at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist church in Valentine. Burial with military rites with follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Visitation will be on Thursday at 5 PM at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine. Mr. Darnell passed away on Aug. 12 in Lincoln.
Survivors
Wife-Dorothy of Lincoln
Sons-Gene of Wyoming
Lynn of New Hampshire
Ronn on New Mexico
Daughter-Joanne of Lincoln
Brother-Leonard of Minnesota