Darnel Lenzy Alexander

Darnel Lenzy Alexander, or "DL", was born on October 2, 1932 in Atkins, Arkansas, the second of five children (James, William, Jessie Earl) to Monroe and Jessie Alexander. Farm chores, hound hunting, and school kept him busy until the 8th grade when he concluded that "a brain had only so much room for learning." Summers were spent exploring the country. One year it was a Florida cattle ranch with a friend, and a couple of summers were spent in Fairfield, Idaho burning "loco weed" for the forest service, and later on a cattle ranch.
At age 18, he enlisted in the Air Force. His stops in the service included England, Lackland AFB - California, Mountain Home AFB - Idaho, and Missoula, Montana. While stationed at Mountain Home, he met Juanita Anderson and they were wed in Missoula, Montana on July 6th, 1953.
After his service, they moved back to Arkansas to farm. A few years of midnight plantings with lightning "so bright you didn't need headlights", followed the next morning with two feet of water covering the crops, caused him to pick up his family (Juanita, plus 2 kids) and try something new. He worked for Morrison Knutson Company building and repairing roads and the railroad, moving his family (now including Debbie) from Coos Bay to Cascade Locks and on to Pendleton.
DL and his oldest brother (James) joined McWaters Construction in Pheonix to learn the guardrail trade. Four years later, DL's failed attempt to purchase Bill's company sent him looking for greener pastures. Idaho looked good, and so with a new partner, Leroy Samuelson, he prospered, and so did his love for fishing and hunting in Idaho. Sam's health detriorated and the company was disbanded. This gave DL the opportunity to start his own company, so he partnered with his older brother (James) and later his son and his youngest brother (Jessie Earl), staying in Idaho.
He fully retired from construction in 1987, giving him a chance to fish, hunt, and work in wood crafting full time. After his wife's passing in 2002, he continued his hobbies as long as his body allowed him, but he eventually relented to all but woodcrafts. Down to his last days, his love of woodcraft and family kept him engaged and sharp.
He lived his life, and passed from it, on his own terms.