Darrell Newton Caraway's Obituary
Darrell Newton Caraway passed away on April 6, 2024, surrounded by his wife and his two children. He is survived by his wife, Joy Notowich Caraway, his daughter, Donna Caraway Wright (Sherrie), his son, Mark Harmon Caraway (Thuy), his grandson, Matthew Wright (Meg), his granddaughter Meghan Moriarty (Matthew), his four great grandchildren, Cora, Henry, Anna and Ellie, his brother Sherrill Caraway (Margaret), his sisters Janice Willoughby and Betty Porta (Clay) and numerous Caraway, Bond, Willoughby and Porta cousins, nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
Darrell was born September 12, 1932, in his grandparents’ house in Sugartown, Louisiana. He lived there with his parents, Joseph Harmon Caraway and Ethel Emma Bond and his grandparents, John and Ellie Caraway. He graduated Valedictorian of his class from Sugartown High School in 1950 and attended Louisiana State University on a full scholarship, graduating in 1954 with a degree in Horticulture. He was President of the Horticulture Club, a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and a member of the ROTC. He had always wanted to fly airplanes, having been fascinated by a bi-wing airplane he saw as a child and upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. He married Cecilia Ann Roark following graduation and the couple moved to Winter Haven, Florida for primary pilot training and then on to Big Spring, Texas where his daughter, Donna was born and his eleven-year career as a pilot and an instructor pilot in the Air Force began. The family lived in Texas, Michigan, Louisiana and Newfoundland, Canada and in 1965, after achieving the rank of Captain, he left the Air Force and the family moved to Houston, where he started his business career. In business, he worked for American General, Houston Data Center and Cravens Dargan, where he met and married Joy, his wife of 39 years. A few years later, Darrell and Joy welcomed the birth of their son, Mark. After nine years working for Harris County, he retired. Darrell loved to travel and went to 49 of 50 states, driving to most of them, and many countries including Canada, China, Mexico and much of Western Europe. But his favorite place in the world was his beloved “Lodge” outside of DeRidder, Louisiana, a cedar cabin he built himself with the help of his father, brother, brothers-in-law and friends. It has become a family destination to be enjoyed by all. He was an avid gardener and shared his bounty of vegetables with family, neighbors and many friends. He also helped Congregation Beth El Temple in Missouri City with landscaping including installing and trimming trees. His generous and loving spirit will be sorely missed as he took care of all his family to the very end.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 pm, Friday, April 12, 2024, in Sugartown, Louisiana at the cemetery next to Sugartown Baptist Church on LA 113, Sugartown, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the charity of your choice.
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