Joe Mac Darter

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Funeral Service at First Baptist Church, Temple, OK, Friday, March 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., Carl Ray Evans officiating. Viewing at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Temple on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. 

Joe Mac Darter was born to Reeford Ray and Peggy Maureen (McCluskey) Darter on December 30, 1951 in Wichita Falls, TX and departed this life in Wichita Falls on March 22, 2025 at the age of 73 years, 2 months and 29 days.

Joe Mac grew up in southern Cotton County attending Big Pasture Schools until transferring to the Temple School District, graduating from THS in 1970. There, he served as class president and excelled in track, winning 4 gold medals at state. He loved dragging main in his ‘68 Barracuda and drove it to Stillwater as he went on to receive his bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University. During that time, he married Cheryl Ruth Parkinson on June 8, 1972 in Lawton, OK and to the union 3 children were born. Upon graduating from OSU, the family made their home in Burkburnett, TX, where he and Cheryl started CherMac Construction.

In 1981, Joe Mac and some partners got into the oil business for a time before he made a move to Austin, TX. There he worked for Capital and Adkins in commercial construction. He moved to Wimberly, TX in 1992, partnering in construction and starting his dog kennel business. He returned to Cotton County in 2003 and has continued his kennel business, raising Springer Spaniels, eventually adding Vizslas and more recently just raising Vizslas. He enjoyed his bird dogs and bird hunting, along with fishing and golfing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Reeford and Peggy Darter, and his brother, David Kent Darter in 2023.

Survivors include 2 sons, Bret Darter of Cedar Park, TX, and Joe Darter of Burnet, TX; a daughter, Kelle Bush and Rob Ramey of Salado, TX; a stepdaughter, Olivia Hettrich of Hillsboro, Oregon; a stepson, Dylan Hettrich of Oregon; his sister, Rebecca Rae “Becky” Zielke and Russ of Balko, OK; 9 grandchildren, twins Ryden and Landen Darter, Jacob Dunning and Hannah, Rylee Darter, Keithen Darter, Cameron Bush, Kylee Bush, Drake Ramey and Grayson Ramey; 2 great grandchildren, Asher and Dax Dunning; other relatives and friends.