My name is Jennifer Taylor. I've started this fundraiser on behalf of my lovely sister-in-law Vonda and her husband Darrel Smith.

 

Early this morning there was a knock on their door. The knock that no parent wants to hear when they know their child is away from the house.

 

Officers were there with the worst news in the world. Their son Darryl, affectionately known as Little D or D, had been in a car accident and he hadn't survived.

 

After the shock and trying to process that they'd lost their only son, came the reality of needing to inform family. Of which there are many.

 

As calls were placed and mourners came and left in the early hours of the day, the realization hits that in the lowest possible point in their lives, they now have to figure out how to afford to bury their child.

 

Like most of us when we're in our 20's, D didn't have life insurance. His parents also do not have a policy for him.

 

For those who don't know her, Vonda was born with cerebral palsy and is on disability. After years of appeals, Darrel only recently won his case to receive his own disability. This is their only source of income and they still have their last born at home to support.

 

The plan is to have Darryl cremated, as this is the least expensive. The local butcher has generously offered to provide food for any service. However, for now, we aren't sure when that will be. The officers explained that because of the holiday weekend, the coroner will not be doing the autopsy until Tuesday. Therefore, we have some time to raise funds and figure out the final arrangements.

 

It does appear from the scene of the accident that D swerved to avoid hitting something in the road. He was on a straight away on a back road, heading home. There was no other vehilcle involved and he was the sole occupant of his car.

 

Darryl loved to play billiards, online game with his friends and family, watch the 49ers, and work on his car. He recently started a new full-time job with really good pay and told his friends that he was looking forward to being able to help his parents out more as a result of the higher wages.

 

Darryl is survived by his parents Darrel and Vonda Smith, his older sisters Phoenix and Alysha, his younger sister Ireane, his grand-parents Robert and Connie Leavenworth, his great-grandmother and family matriarch Mary Lou Hostetler-Clark and numerous aunt, uncles, and cousins.