Darren Stacks, known to so many as Darren the Plumber, left us on December 31, 2025, in Arizona. He was 63. Born on May 20, 1962, Darren faced his final months with the same quiet determination he’d shown throughout life. COPD and lung cancer tested him fiercely, but he fought hard every step of the way. Those who knew him saw his resilience up close. He never let the illness dim his spirit completely.
Life took him across the country over the years. He started out in California, going to Narbonne High School in the Torrance area. Then came big changes. In November 2001, during a brutal ice storm, he and his brother headed to Texas. By December, he started at Coryell Plumbing in the Copperas Cove area. That job became more than work. It turned into two decades of steady, honest days fixing things for people.
Darren took real pride in what he did. Customers weren’t just jobs to him. They became friends. He showed up reliably, worked with care, and left things better than he found them. Stories from folks in Central Texas still mention how he went the extra mile, often with a smile or a bit of advice thrown in. That kind of trustworthiness built lasting connections.
As health challenges grew, Darren made another move. In December 2021, he retired and headed to Arizona, closer to family in places like Kingman. It gave him more time with the people who mattered most. But Texas never really left him. Friends like Tim, Marvin, DeLynn, and so many others became his chosen family there. They shared laughs, stories, and support that felt like home.
The hole he leaves feels big. Customers miss the plumber who treated their homes like his own. Friends miss the guy who made time for everyone. Family misses the brother, the uncle, the steady presence. Darren lived simply but fully—working hard, building relationships, facing tough times head-on.
His memory stays in the fixes he made, the friendships he built, and the quiet strength he showed to the end. Darren the Plumber wasn’t just a nickname. It was who he was: someone people counted on. He’ll be missed dearly, but the good he put into the world keeps going.
