Willa Mae Darst

Born April 5, 1920, Willa Mae (Johnston) Darst passed away January 28, 2015 at Moberly Nursing & Rehab. The 2nd of 7 children of Denver and Myrtle (Howell) Johnston, she married Estill Darst on May 6, 1939. Three sons: Donald and Valerie Darst of Moberly; Ordell and Charlene Darst and Darrell and Kevin Darst both of Madison; one sister, Mattie Ruth Pierce of Texas. Several grandsons and granddaughters survive including; Charlotte; Jason and Tonya Darst; Ashley; Marcia and Tony Thornhill; and Jennifer Truelove. Early childhood shifted from Madison to Hanibal. Fearing unemployment in 1932 (height of Great Depression) Denver relocated his family back to the Holiday/Madison area with Willa Mae placed with her grandparents, Mead and Willie Tom Johnston. Revealed recently, was Willie Mae asked her mother if she could change her name before school started to avert teasing. Her grandmother, however, was not told what one of their favorite granddaughters had done! She attended Mt. Pleasant School for one year, later her and Estill were united in marriage in the Baptist Church; also located there. Returning to the Turner School area north of Madison in 1935, Willa Mae was struck by Polio. Unable to mover her legs she courageously overcame it and regained her ability to walk! Willa Mae was a homemaker; a wonderful cook, loved to read and enjoyed flowering she had learned from her grandmother. She resided on the family farm northwest of Madison from 1948 to recently, including some twenty years after Estill passed away in 1991. She confirmed her Christian faith a few years ago. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Million Taylor Funeral Homes in Moberly with funeral following at 2:00 p.m... Pastor Erik Davidson of Grace Baptist Church will be officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Madison. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Willa Mae Darst please visit our Sympathy Store.