Darrel Gene Hearn

Darrel Gene Hearn, 87, died peacefully with his family by his side on November 19, 2019. Darrel was born on December 19, 1931 to Clarence Craiton and Janye Mixon Hearn in Beaumont, Texas, and raised in Houston, Texas. Darrel was a servant of God, husband, father and friend.

Darrel earned his Masters of Education from Texas Christian University and was later awarded an honorary doctorate. During this time, he was an exchange student at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico, focusing on bilingual education (English, Spanish).

Darrel was the first certified bilingual educator in the City of Houston and the State of Texas with a career spanning 60 years. He taught at Jefferson Davis High School and Ruby Sue Clifton Middle School in the Houston Independent School District (ISD). In addition, he taught at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla in Cholula, Mexico, and Los Lunas Middle School in the Los Lunas ISD, Los Lunas, New Mexico. Darrel enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language and working in the Texas Room in the Houston Public Library Downtown during the summers.

Darrel was a long-time member of Oaks Christian Church, Houston and a faithful member of its chancel choir where he sang tenor and played the piano for 31 years. It was there he, along with his wife Patricia Anne Rather, launched the first church food and clothing pantry in Houston. In 1975, the Harris County Historical Society asked Darrel and his wife to perform a program of historical Texas music and sponsored their first album “Texas From The Attic” A Musical Guide To The Texas We’ve Almost Forgotten, which can be found in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. They performed throughout Texas and surrounding states adding their daughter and other members throughout the years. Darrel had a love of gospel music which was incorporated into their performances spanning over 30 years.

Darrel was preceded in death by his beloved wife Patricia of 54 years, his parents and his brother Homer Clarence Hearn. Survivors include son, Bryan Darrel Hearn of Houston; daughter, Kathleen Anne Hearn Heath and husband Stephen of Houston; cousin, Melissa Hearn of Norman, Oklahoma; and numerous family members and friends.

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