Leo Keith Darley

May 24, 1927 – March 30, 2018

Leo “Keith” Darley, born May 24, 1927 in Rupert, Idaho died Friday, March 30, 2018 in Vancouver, Wash. Keith was born to George Eckersell and Mary Grace Anderson Darley. He was one of six children, survived by his youngest sister, Lola Darley Yearout.

Keith had a life full of adventure, growing up on the farm but loving cars and airplanes. He owned Model T’s, an airplane, a motorcycle and even a gas station. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II when he was only 17 and spent most of his time in Guam.

When he got home, he asked a cute girl on a date and she said, “Why would I go out with you? You don’t even have a job!” Keith went right out and got a job and then back to get the date. He and M. Maxine James were married on August 11, 1947 despite Keith being late for the wedding because he was out water skiing on the canal. They were married for 69 years until Maxine’s passing in 2016.

They eagerly moved to Moses Lake, Wash. in 1955 with their young family and raised two children, Gary (Cher) Darley and Marilyn (David) Williams, there. Keith was a wonderful father and so full of fun, everyone loved to be around him. He worked in the auto parts industry for most of his life, until he started his own pressure washer sales and service company and he and Maxine enjoyed their many associations from those in their rental properties in Cascade Valley. He loved hunting and fishing with his son, water skiing with his family and boating on all the lakes of Washington and the San Juans in small and grand boats.

In 2007, Keith and Maxine moved to Battleground, Wash. and eventually Vancouver, Wash. to be nearer their son and family. The last eight years they enjoyed the staff and residents of Van Mall Retirement Community. Grandpa Darley (also known as Tractor Grandpa, among other things) will be remembered for his crew cut, his suspenders and his many inspirational sayings like “Ten thousand comedians out of work and you want to be one.” Dad and Grandpa, your posterity loves and adores you. In addition to his children and their spouses, he leaves behind seven grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren and a million funny stories.

Keith will be interred in the Minidoka/Rupert Cemetery with his dear wife.