Daryle Stuart Himes, 58, died of lung cancer Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at his home.
Mr. Himes was born May 31, 1946 in Cazenovia, Ill., to Frederick and Mildred (Null) Himes. He grew up in the Midwest, spent 20 years in Colorado, then settled in southeast Texas in 2001.
He graduated from Richland Center High School in Richland Center, Wis., in 1964. He honorably served in the US Navy from 1966 to 1968 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal.
He was an avid Harley-Davidson motorcyclist all of his life, logging many miles of scenic trips and reveling in the Sturgis, South Dakota, motorcycle rally. He loved big-game hunting, "spaghetti Westerns", car racing, Tina Turner's music and fishing on the bayou.
He was generous with family and friends, quick to laugh, eager to have a good time and thought life was to be lived a little "on the edge." His outgoing personality brought a spark to his small, rural neighborhood near La Belle.
He was a brick mason by profession. He spent the last 15 years of his career specializing in refractory construction nationwide, working primarily for Western Refractory of
Longmont, Colo.
His work and his family were important elements in his life. He took great joy in his three grandchildren: Roman, 6, Rhianon, 5, and Lyric, two months.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Jean Wilkins and Joyce Spry.
He is survived by his daughter, Darcy Himes of Silverdale, Wash.; a son, Christopher Himes, of Mansfield, Penn.; three grandchildren; three brothers: Roland Himes of Spring Valley, Ill., Fred Himes of Hiawatha, Iowa and Loren Himes of Markle, Ind.; two sisters: Phyllis Huss of Battle Creek, Iowa and Sharon Harness of Richland Center, Wis.
Mr. Himes requested to be cremated. A memorial picnic for family and friends will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 12 at 728 Little Acres Road, Beaumont.