Darrel Ray Wait

Native Baca County resident, Darrel Ray Wait passed from this life on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, from an automobile accident. Darrel was born on August 14, 1957 in Boise City, Oklahoma, to Charley and Frances Wait, 3 minutes after his twin sister Cheryl. Darrel started school in Campo, Colorado and spent his educational years in this same school, graduating in 1975. Darrel spent his summers on a combine going on wheat harvests. His brother, Larry, and he still were cutting wheat and milo until the time of his death. In 1978, Darrel met his love for life, Shana Jagers. They met in August of this year and were married on April 2, 1978. Darrel told Shana on their second date he loved her. Darrel’s sons feel blessed that by watching their parents love each other that they know what a great marriage is all about. Darrel and Shana were best friends and did everything together. Darrel made it obvious that Shana was perfect to him and that he loved her with all of his heart. Darrel had a love for hunting and for guns. On November 14, 1982, God blessed Darrel with his lifetime hunting partner, Kyle Ray Wait. Darrel taught Kyle how to handle a gun and shoot before Kyle started Kindergarten. Darrel and Kyle spent many hours talking about guns, hunting spots, and hunting wagons. They started going on Elk hunting trips each year as soon as Kyle was old enough to go. The winter of 2008 they worked together almost every weekend designing the “Jerry Rig”. Darrel was born with a passion for music. On September 16, 1985 God blessed Darrel with his second little treasure, his little fiddler, Preston J. Wait. Darrel knew from the time Preston was 4 years old that he was born to hold this instrument. He started Preston on the fiddle at the age of 5. They spent countless hours playing the guitar and humming a song for Preston to learn by ear. Darrel’s family was his ultimate happiness, and Darrel would drop anything to be with them, never wanting to miss any part of their lives. When Darrel was 11 years old he told his dad he wanted a set of drums, and when he got home from school his dad had bought his first set and they were set up in the living room. Darrel was a natural at the drums, never needing to practice, even from the very beginning. Darrel had a natural ear and the solid rhythm of a metronome. Darrel spent many Friday and Saturday nights playing music with his brothers and his dad. In fact, his wedding had to be planned around a scheduled dance. He continued to play the drums until the time of his death. Anytime there was music in the room Darrel could not sit still, and he could sing the lyrics to any song. Darrel expressed to Shana many times that music gave him a feeling of pure enjoyment. The loved ones that Darrel has left behind will always remember him as someone who never forgot a joke and always had one to tell. He was a “fun” man and lived life each day to the fullest. In 1990 Darrel started raising quality Duroc show pigs. He followed the show pig circuit until 2002 meeting some lifelong friends. Watching his sons show pigs at the county, state, and national level was the joy of his life because of the work ethic and family time involved. He always felt it was important for the family to learn and grow together. He was preceded in death by his father Charley Franklin Wait, his brother Charles Eldon Wait, and a special father-in-law Thomas Jagers. Darrel is survived by his wife of 31 years, Shana Wait of Campo, CO; two sons, Kyle and Preston; his mother, Frances Ruth Wait; one brother, Larry Wait and two sisters, Freda Hoeffner, and Cheryl Billings. All of Darrel’s surviving family resides in Campo. Darrel also leaves behind a large extended family.