JOHN DALE “JACK” DARDEN 

      John Dale “Jack” Darden, age 82, of East Palatka, died Tuesday May 19, 2009 at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine following a short illness.  He was a native of St. Augustine and lived in Putnam County for the past 77 years.  He was a member of Christ Independent Methodist Church in Palatka and retired after working 40 years in the finance department at Hudson Pulp & Paper.  He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II and a charter member of the Palatka Skeet Club.  He served as the first treasurer for the Hudson Pulp & Paper Federal Credit Union, which is now First Coast Federal Credit Union of Palatka, serving in this capacity for 15 years.  He was a member and Past Master of Palatka Lodge #34 F&AM and treasurer of the York Rite Bodies in Palatka.  He was also a member of the Scottish Rite in Jacksonville and chaplain of the NE Chapter # 435 of the National Sojourners, Inc. in Jacksonville.  He had formerly served as scout master of Boy Scout Troop #236 in Palatka.   

     He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris Hilty Darden of East Palatka;

4 daughters, Linda Darden, Jane Hafner & husband, Jerry, all of East Palatka, Dale Johnson & husband, Bill of Salt Springs and Dawn Fullerton & husband, Clay of St. Augustine; brother, William E. “Bill” Darden, Jr. & wife, Gini of Palatka;

7 grandchildren, Scott Johnson, Kasey Seiler & husband, Teddy, Jason Hafner & wife, Laura, Justin Hafner, Lane Volkerson, Devan Fullerton, and Chase Fullerton; 6 great-grandchildren, C. John Seiler, Emmie Seiler, Cole Hafner, Jake Hafner, Hunter Screen, and Cason Smith; niece, Beth Zeringue & husband, Reggie of Metairie, Louisiana and a nephew, W.E. Darden, III of Palatka.

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Dearest Doris, Linda, Lane, Jane/Jerry Hafner Family, Dale/Hos Johnson Family, & Dawn/Clay Fullerton Family ---   
Jack will always be remembered as such a sweet, kind, and gentle man and, oh, how he loved all of "his girls"!   He made everyone he got to know feel like they were "family", too.  He will be truly missed in this life, but he is waiting for all his loved ones to meet up with him again.   
We are so sorry for your loss. 
Your friends always,  The Gaultneys 

The Gaultneys --- Cole, Vicki, Tyler, & Weston  ~ Newberry, FL

I thought the WORLD of Jack and am so sorry i could not go to the funeral.  I will always remember his wonderful smile and friendly manner.  He was a first class individual!  I know he is really smiling and talking to everyone in heaven!

Inez Browning ~ St. Augustine, Fl.

Dear Doris and all the Darden Family,

We are deeply saddened that Jack has passed away.  But, we are gladdened that he touched our lives all the way out here in Kansas.  Our friendship began when his pal John Mohler brought him to hunt pheasants a bunch of years ago.  One of the most memorable (and funniest) events occurred the first time he went hunting with us on opening day.  The sun was just coming up, it was cold and clear.  We started through a patch of sunflower stalks and it didn't take long for Jack to stumble into a ditch with several inches of water in it.  It is still known as the "Darden Memorial Ditch." He was soaked and it was cold. We didn't cut him a lot of slack.  Also, somewhere along the hunting way, your daughter Dale made the trip, and we were delighted to meet her.  Another story which us hunters still talk about was when Jack brought a friend of his who was hard of hearing and recently had some heart problems.  The poor fellow was "blocking" on the road, and we saw a car coming toward him.  He hadn't seen it.  He couldn't hear it.  We were all yelling at him "car, car!!!", and he kept yelling back at us "how far!!"  He didn't get hit.  We remember visiting your home a few years ago.  Jack gave Michael and Matthew a knife which they still have and they remember him well. (And he gave Michael another knife on the occasion of his becoming an Eagle Scout). During our Florida visit, we met several of your children and spouses and had dinner on the Atlantic coast.  My mom, Miss Ruth, as Jack used to call her, will miss him. She always enjoyed your being in Junction City for the hunt, visiting and doing things with you, Doris.  And, Jack had his politics straight.  He was a patriot, a good conservative, and I think he and I agreed on just about everything.  On opening day of this pheasant season, Saturday, November 14, our hunting party will have a 21-gun salute to Jack. We did it for my dad; I think we can do it for Jack.
Love to you all.
The Murray Family.

Mike, Julie, Michael and Matthew Murray and Miss Ruth ~ Topeka, Kansas

Dear Bill, Gini, and Darden family,  Please accept our sincere sympathy for your loss.  Our hearts are heavy for you and we will keep you all in our prayers.  If we can help you in your time of sorrow in any way, please call on us.  God bless and keep you, Judy and Robert Moore

Robert and Judy Moore ~ East Palatka, FL