Darion L. Grable, Jr

SSG Darion Grable, Jr, 73, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2025 in Little Rock, Arkansas, surrounded by family and love.

SSG Grable was born in Little Rock, Arkansas to Lina Jane and Darion Lane Grable, Sr. and is preceded in death by a son, Benjamin Lane Grable. He leaves behind a brother, Edward V. Grable, his wife of 55 years, Deborah J. Grable, two children, Stacy A. Jarrett (Heath) and John E. Grable. Seven grandchildren; Gavin L. Prince (Jewel), Brooke A. Whitsett (Kyle), Victoria L. Keathley (Derek), Benjamin L. Grable, Jr, Nathanial D. Maxim, Joseph A. Maxim, and Mary K. Maxim, and eight great grandchildren. Along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, several friends, and close family friend, Marcus L. Keith. The family would also like to thank the many doctors and nurses at the VA in North Little Rock, and Little Rock for their care and compassion.

SSG Grable was a veteran of the United States Army. He was stationed in various locations including Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, Fr. Carson, Colorado, Ft. Dix, New Jersey, Ft. Hood, Texas, Lucius D. Clay Kaserne Garlstedt, West Germany, Honduras, and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. SSG Grable was involved in the Invasion of Grenada in 1983. After his military service, SSG Grable worked at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and Parker Lexus in Little Rock. In his free time, he served as a Scout Master, coached and umpired baseball for the Rosedale Optimist Club for many years.

If you knew SSG Grable, you knew he was a prankster, a jokester, an amazing cook, animal lover and loved the outdoors, especially camping and fishing, of which he was very good. SSG Grable passed on that love of the outdoors to anyone he could. He also loved to travel, and while in Germany, he took his family to experience as much as they could while they were there. When returning to the United States, his travels did not stop; many of them were to his family’s favorite amusement park, Walt Disney World.

SSG Grable lived a life of good cooking, laughs, shenanigans and adventure and in his passing leaves a hole in many lives. Instead of being mournful for his absence in our lives, and in lieu of flowers, head outside and enjoy what Mother Nature has provided to us all, for that was truly his happiest and most memorable times, being in the great outdoors with people he loved. However, feel free to donate to your favorite charity in his honor.

A memorial service will be held at noon, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at 1501 W. Maryland Ave, North Little Rock, 72120.