Darren Lee Hart, 60, of Wood Heights, Missouri passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at his place of business.

Darren was born on November 9, 1963, in St. Joseph, Missouri to Robert Lee and Margaret (Dye) Hart. Darren’s life revolved around Christ, Automotive, and Family.

Darren actively attended the First Baptist Church in Wathena, Kansas. He previously served on the Church Board at Liberty Church of the Nazarene. Throughout his journey, Darren participated in numerous missionary trips, dedicated to spreading the message of Christ. During his time in Africa, he not only shared his faith but also assisted local citizens in repairing their motorized scooters.

Darren began his career at Federal Sign, working alongside his father. From there he then moved to a mechanics shop, Stucky’s in Kearney, Missouri. This is where he discovered his true passion for automotive work. Darren first opened the doors to Hart’s Auto Repair in Liberty, Missouri in 1989. It started as a small two-bay shop, where he quickly became successful and expanded into multiple bays and various locations.

While expanding his businesses, Darren dedicated himself to enhancing his education and expertise. He obtained all ASE certifications, graduated from Dale Carnegie, and has held his Master Mechanic certification for over 35 years. Additionally, he became a member of the Automotive Service Association.
Throughout his career, Darren has always been committed to helping others. He participated in a Saturday morning talk show that addressed automobile repair questions for the community, taught vocational technology in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, and collaborated with 101 the Fox and the Late Slacker on the Cars 4 Heroes initiative.

Darren married Kathy Stansil on August 25, 2018, in Gladstone, Missouri. She survives of the home. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret on February 13, 2021.
Additional survivors:
Father: Robert Lee Hart, Excelsior Springs, Missouri, formerly of Wathena, Kansas.
Siblings: Annette Francis (Allen), Brendi Howlett, and Charles Hart, all of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Children: Christina McElwee (Nick) of Kearney, Missouri. Timothy “T.J.” Dodson (Kayla) of Holt, Missouri. Rebecca Kuhn (Peyton) of Princeton, Kansas.
Grandchildren: Caden, Karter, Izabella, Avery and Emberlyn.
Nieces & Nephews: Mark Campbell, Shaun Campbell, Janel Campbell, Jonathan Ledford, Seth Ledford, Jesse Ledford, and many others.

Visitation; Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024, at 12:00 PM First Baptist Church 407 N Third Street Wathena, KS 66090.
Funeral Service; Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024, at 1:00 PM First Baptist Church, 407 N Third Street Wathena, KS 66090

Burial Service; Bellemont Cemetery Wathena, KS 66090

Lunch will be served after the Burial service back at the First Baptist Church.

Celebration of Life; Saturday, October 26th, 2024
Liberty Church of the Nazarene 1400 Southview Drive Liberty, MO 64068
Small Service starts at 2:00 PM
Come and Go Celebration 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Memorials should be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Diabetes Foundation. www.harmanrohde.com