Joseph Edward Richard Darling, 79, of Mayetta, KS, passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at his home. He was born May 26, 1943 at the Claremore Indian Hospital in Claremore, OK, the son of Marcell Joseph and Cherie Adair (Cochran) Darling.

Joe graduated from Central High School in Tulsa, OK and attended Oklahoma State University and Northeastern State University. He proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era and was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant.

He worked as Claims Processor at the Unemployment Office and later as a

sorter for the United States Post Office.

He was a member of the Methodist religion and a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

Joe married Anne Hughes, they divorced. He married Rita Doreene Jackson, they divorced.

Survivors include 3 sons, Joseph "Joey" Darling, KS, Robert Darling (fiancé, Delilah Trager) and Thomas Darling all of Mayetta, KS; daughter, Lisa Darling of Tulsa, OK; sister, Nedra Darling (Bowman Cox) of Alexandria, VA; 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marcell and Cherie Darling and 3 sisters, Marcella Postoak, Wilma Whitaker and Rochelle Lepp.

Funeral Service will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2022 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow at the Shipshee Cemetery. Joe will lie in state at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.