Darren Wayne Coffel
Darren Wayne Coffel, 45, of Elkville, passed away Friday evening, Sept. 20, 2013 at the St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro from a vehicle accident.
Darren worked at Main Street T's in Du Quoin. Darren had been an IHSA Official for 25 years and had officiated basketball, football, baseball and volleyball since the age of 18. He had coached at the junior high school, high school and junior college level. He was the president and founder of SIUA, member of the EOA for 20 years, founder of SIFL, a fall wooden bat league in southern Illinois for high school age baseball players, which grew from five to 12 teams. He was the founder of the SI Sun Dawgs, a competitive traveling baseball team of 18 and under and 16 and under youths. He attended the Elkville Christian Church. He was an outstanding, loving and devoted father to all three boys, Eli, Ike and Chase and the most loving, loyal and dedicated lifelong partner to Kaila.
He was born July 19, 1968 at Du Quoin, Ill. the son of Galen G. and Marcia L. (McMurray) Coffel.
He is survived by a son- Chase Conrad Coffel of Elkville, life partner- Kaila Tyner and her sons Elijah Fennell and Isaiah Fennell of Elkville, father- Galen G. Coffel and wife Carol D. of Du Quoin, mother- Marcia Frederick and husband John C. of Vergennes, two brothers- Aaron Coffel of Japan and Matthew Coffel of Du Quoin, paternal grandmother- Lucille Coffel of Du Quoin, several aunts, uncles and cousins and many good friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather- Dale Coffel and maternal grandparents- Wayne and Edna McMurray.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Brother Gary Pruitt officiating.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Cremation services will follow the funeral.
Friends may make memorials to an education fund for his son Chase Coffel and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.