Darren Acton

May 25, 1965 - February 24, 2021

Darren Brent Acton, age 55, of Clare, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, at MidMichigan Medical in Midland. He was born the son of Larry W. and Janet “Laurene” (Woodward) Acton, on May 25, 1965, in Clare. He graduated from Clare High School in 1983, and went on to get his BA in Engineering Technology from Central Michigan University. Darren had worked as an Account Manager for Applied Industrial. He had lived his entire life in Clare where he “wore many Civic Hats”. He was currently a member of the Clare City Planning Commission, a position that he has held for several years, serving as Vice Chairperson and Chairperson several times. He was one of the primary innovators of the Imagination Gateway children’s Playscape in the Brookwood City Park. He had been a member of the Clare Jaycees, and had attended the Clare United Methodist Church. Darren was also an accomplished percussionist and was a member of The Gateway Community Band, The Scottville Clown Band and the Clare Band Boosters organization, often hauling the Clare Band Trailer to festivals. Darren was also an expert skier, he was a Level 3 Instructor for the Professional Ski instructors of America, was an instructor for the Snowsnake Mountain Ski School. He was also a member of the Clare Ski Team Parent Booster’s organization. Survivors include his brothers, Larry and Donna Acton of Midland, Kirk and Kimberlyn Acton of Burt Lake, his “soulmate” of 14 years, Jenn Ferry and her daughters (His Girls!) Alise and Alexis, and his niece and nephews, Duane (Jessie), Brent, Brett, and Lauren. He was preceded in death by his dad in 2013 and his mom in 2014. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Clare United Methodist Church with Pastor Jackie Raineri officiating. Burial will follow in the Cherry Grove Cemetery in Clare. Friends may meet with his family at the Clare Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home on Monday, March 1, from 5 to 8 PM. Social distancing and mask use will be required at both events. For those unable to attend, an online condolence register is available on Darren’s Tribute Page at www.stephenson-wyman .com, and the service will be livecast on the Funeral Home’s Facebook page.