Darren Eugene Easley

Darren Eugene Easley, 57, of Carlsbad, NM, passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at Carlsbad Medical Center. Cremation will take place and a memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 PM, Friday, January 24, 2025, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor David Rogers officiating. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Darren was born on February 25, 1967, in Odessa, Texas, to Roger and Genneth (Burton) Easley. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1985, where he was a dedicated member of the football team. After high school, Darren began working at Hastings and Beason's Furniture, before transitioning to the mail room at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in 1995. His career there evolved when he joined the mining team, and he ultimately became part of the fire department. Over time, Darren worked his way up to lieutenant of the "C" crew, serving with distinction on the emergency response team. He was also a member of the Eddy County search and Rescue team.

As a hardworking firefighter and EMT, Darren took great pride in saving lives and making a lasting impact on the lives of others. His dedication to his profession was evident in his numerous certifications, including Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, Incident Command System 100, 200, 700, and 800, New Mexico Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate, and a Pro-Board Accredited Firefighter I and II. In recognition of his unwavering service, Darren was recently awarded a 30-year plaque for his years of commitment to the fire department.

Darren had a passion for working on cars and was an avid gun enthusiast. He also had a deep love for rock music, and his truck’s radio station was almost always tuned to Ozzy’s Boneyard. Growing up, he loved attending rock concerts and went to every show he could. His favorite football team was the San Francisco 49ers whether they won or lost, but he rooted for any team going against the Dallas “Cowgirls”. Above all, Darren cherished his family. While he was known for saving many lives through his work, he often said that "his girls" were the ones who truly saved his.

He was, and will always be, an outstanding, goofy, patient, stubborn, funny, strong, creative, resilient, and, above all, loving man. Darren poured his heart and unwavering support into his family. He never missed an event, appointment, or rehearsal, always showing up with the biggest smile. He made sure that everyone around him knew just how proud he was of what his girls had accomplished.

He was incredibly friendly and often found himself engaged in long conversations with friends, acquaintances, and even strangers—whether at the store, at work, or sometimes right in the middle of the neighborhood street. He always found a way to make his friends smile or laugh.

Renee Love-Easley was his heart, his soulmate, and the beauty to his beast. She was his entire world, and he was hers. Darren cared for and loved her with a depth that knew no bounds, and she loved him in return. Their love was fierce and unconditional—Renee gave him the freedom to feel young again, be himself, and experience a love that was truly undeniable.

His children were his pride and joy, and he never missed an opportunity to boast about their accomplishments. As a dad, he was outstanding, caring, and funny. Darren was a living example of the saying “Actions speak louder than DNA.” Tessa, in particular, would not have achieved all she did without his unwavering support and encouragement. He was there for her through thick and thin, and she could not thank him enough for being so wonderful to her.

His kitties and dogs—six cats (the late Blacky and Taz, and the surviving Gally, Ringo, Ziggy, and Princess Penny) and two dogs (Hades and Zeus)—were his babies, and he spoiled them relentlessly, though he’d never admit it. It was rare to find him sitting without a cat in his lap.

Grief is not the absence or replacement of love; it is the evidence of it. We are incredibly fortunate to have been loved by—and to have had the opportunity to love—this amazing, amazing man. We would trade no amount of grief for anything but his presence.

 He was preceded in death by his father, Roger E. Easley and father-in-law, Dale T. Love. 

 Survivors are his wife, Renee Dale Love Easley; children, Skyler P. Folks and partner James Lawson, Tessa Renee and fiancé Shea Case, Andrew Easley, and Amber Easley; mother-in-law, Patricia A. Love. and several nieces and nephews.

 Honorary pallbearers will be Craig Andrews, Hank Beason, Craig Hiney, Shea Case, Freddy Florez, Les Towry, Rick Lopez, his C Crew, Fire Chiefs, and the rest of the WIPP Fire Department.