Mary Ella Paschall Darby

Mary Ella Paschall Darby, age 102, departed her earthly life peacefully at Signature Lifestyles in Jefferson City, TN on October 16, 2025. Born on October 5, 1923, to Hafford and Verba Paschall in Puryear, TN, she was the eighth of twelve children. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, the Paschall family’s farm life was full of devotion, love, and laughter.

Mary met her future husband, Wade E. Darby, when they became lab partners in chemistry class at Puryear High School. They eventually married on November 24, 1943, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where Wade was serving as a minister and working toward a divinity degree. Mary and Wade welcomed their four sons while serving a church in Chickasha, Oklahoma. As a mother, Mary taught her four boys the value of education, a passion for sports, the blessings of a close-knit family, and a faith in Jesus Christ that leads to salvation. As a grandmother of eight and a great-grandmother of seventeen, she baked mountains of ginger cookies, read stories galore, and celebrated each one’s accomplishments with joy.

During World War II, Mary worked as a secretary at the Army base, Camp Tyson, outside of Paris, TN. She was a long-term member of First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, and over the years she served in many positions in her churches, graduated from Carson Newman College, taught kindergarten at New Market Elementary School, became the Assistant Editor of Home Life Magazine, volunteered for many years at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, and enjoyed the friendships that she made in church and community activities. Two of her favorite hobbies were participating in aerobics and beating anyone and everyone at Scrabble.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Hafford and Verba Paschall, her eleven brothers and sisters, her husband of 54 years, Wade E. Darby, and her sons, Daniel L. Darby and Dennis D. Darby. She is survived by her sons, Dewayne (Mary Ellen) Darby and Rodney (Cindy) Darby, daughters-in-law, Laura F. Darby (Dennis) and Victoria O. Darby (Dan). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Anthony (Meghan) Darby, Laura (Bryan) Purdom, Andrea (Josh) Rhodes, Peter (Suzanne) Darby, Julia (Andy) Lowe, Mary Kate (Bart) Collins, Will (Sarah) Darby, and Patrick (Amy Neumann) Darby, and seventeen great-grandchildren. Mary had a close relationship with many nieces and nephews and her special Scrabble friend, Marilyn Barr. Her family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff at Signature Lifestyles, Caris Hospice, and her caring and compassionate caregivers, Debbie, Skye, and Kari.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Farrar Funeral Home with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Carey Herring officiating.

Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN