Darrel Loyd Coffman

Darrel Loyd Coffman from Morrilton passed away on February 16, 2025, at Conway Regional Hospital. He was born August 11, 1940, in Morrilton to Loyd & Geneva Goates Coffman. Darrel never liked school and dropped out in tenth grade. He worked in diners until 1958, when he joined the US Army. After training in Oregon, he traveled to Germany, where he drove a tank as a Spec 4. On returning to the US, he met and married Letha Ann Joslin of Plumerville. They soon traveled to California in search of work. While there, Darrel attended night classes at Excellsior High School, finally receiving his diploma. He started classes at Fullerton College but eventually returned to Arkansas, where he finished his degree at Arkansas State Teacher’s College (now UCA) in Conway. After graduation he worked at the Conway Human Development Center as a speech therapist. One year later he returned to UCA for his master’s degree in special education. He worked in Valley Springs Schools and in Cabot as a speech therapist and special ed supervisor. On returning to Morrilton, Darrel and Letha worked in chicken houses on the family farm. Darrel returned to teaching in 1985 when he was hired as a special education teacher at Morrilton High School. He taught there for seventeen years and was named Teacher of the Year in 1992. Saved when he was 21, Darrel attended missionary Baptist churches throughout this life. He taught Sunday school classes to teens for many years at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and was a member of Lonoke Baptist Church at the time of his death. Darrel was a man with many skills. He could tackle just about any odd job and do it well. He did most of his own carpentry, plumbing, and electric work. He was a good shade-tree mechanic, overhauling old cars when his kids were old enough to need them. He bought old rusty equipment, which he dreamed of making into the functioning machines he could envision. He was well known for his sense of humor and had perfect timing to make even a raised eyebrow funny. He had a good tenor singing voice, could beat just about anybody in arm wrestling, loved motorcycles and fast cars, and had enough patience to teach anyone anything. He will be missed by the many people who loved him. Darrel was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Ruth “Snookie” Trafford Deaton. Left behind to miss him are his wife of 63 years, Letha; his daughter and son-in-law, Kristie and Danny Stacks of Bryant; his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Leigh Coffman of Morrilton; his grandchildren, Emily, Wyatt, and Rhett Coffman of Morrilton; his buddy Ole Dog; and a host of nieces, nephews, and former students. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the Harris Chapel with the family to receive friends one hour prior to the service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date.

Darrel Loyd Coffman

August 11, 1940 - February 16, 2025