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Darnell Joseph Pinell Sr., 85, of Nederland, TX passed away Saturday, May 2, 2020.

He was born in Port Arthur, Texas on December 17, 1934, at home to his parents, Eugene Earnest Pinell Sr., and Annie Bergeron Pinell.

Darnell was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eugene Earnest Pinell Jr., sister, Gloria Smith and brother, Dixie Pinell.

His surviving sister is Mary Helen Hardy.

Darnell went to grade school at St. Mary’s and Bishop Byrne High School Section 1 in Port Arthur, TX; joined the Navy from 1954 through 1955 as a Seaman.

He worked at Texaco Case and Packaging Division in Port Arthur for 26 years then at C.O. Wilson Junior High School in Nederland for 11 years.

He married Susan Berzas of Ville Platte, LA, on July 4, 1958, and was married for 62 years.

He is survived by their three children, Darnell Joseph Pinell Jr. and his wife Wanda; Jeannie Ann Fancher; and Adam Eugene Pinell and his wife, Cindy. Darnell and Susan have four grandchildren, Bryan and Jeremy Fancher, and Christine and Alex Pinell.

Both Darnell and Susan have been members of St. Charles Catholic Church for 60 years.

Darnell’s hobby was woodworking and helping to raise their children.

For many years he ministered in the library at the Stiles Unit, a prison for men in Beaumont where he taught Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) classes; volunteered with Homebound Ministries and Prison Ministries at the Jefferson County jail.

His love sign was popping, “The Rod.”

A Christian Vigil will be held Saturday, May 16, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., with a rosary to be recited at 11:00 a.m. at Melancon’s Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 16, 2020, at Memory Garden’s Cemetery in Nederland.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.