Darcie (Darci) Elizabeth Self, age 68, of El Reno, entered into eternal pain-free rest on
Aug. 15, 2022, in Oklahoma City, peacefully and with family at her side.
Darci fought for years, battling a painful, rare nerve damage disorder, and more recently
several forms of cancer. But even the strongest woman to walk the face of the earth could
not beat back the cancer.
Darci was born June 13, 1954, in Salt Lake City, Utah. From Utah to California to
Washington state, and finally to Oklahoma, throughout her life Darci always put family
first, making sure there was food on the table for her four daughters, before herself sitting
down to eat. She was at home in the kitchen and followed her dream, becoming a
Certified Chef from the Culinary Institute of America.
In 2002, Darci met the love of her life and soul mate, Rick Self, in Spokane, Wash.
Meeting through a telephone dating service, they knew after only one phone call and that
first meeting, they were meant to be together. That same year, Darci sustained a
career-ending nerve damage injury, with a simple bump to the finger. RSDS has no cure
and slowly spreads throughout the body.
With strong (and forceful) encouragement from Darci's daughters, Darci and Rick got
married Oct. 10, 2003. In April 2007, Darci and Rick moved to Oklahoma to be closer to
family and a new job opportunity for Rick in El Reno.
Darci’s love for cooking could only be rivaled by the love she had of her daughters and
10 grandchildren. She was a child magnet, someone whom children in a store, in a
restaurant or on the street would walk up to her, smile and chat openly about anything
and everything. And she always returned their banter with a smile and a twinkle in her
eye. She could never figure out why people in the checkout line would just start talking to
her. But that was her openness and willingness to listen. Darci never met a stranger.
Darci is survived by her husband, Richard (Rick) of the home; daughters, Jennifer
Strickland of Iowa, Ashley Beckwith of Arizona, Jessica Waterman of Washington state
and Caitlyn White of Washington state; 10 grandchildren; and a multitude of friends with
whom she touched their lives.
Everybody at the local Walmart knew who Darci was. She touched the lives of
everybody and she is and will be missed dearly.
As a lifelong Catholic, Darci had long ago made peace with God and had accepted Jesus
Christ as her Lord and Savior.
No memorial service is planned.
We ask that any contributions be made to the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
organization (RSDS.org) or locally to the Good Shepherd Hospice.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of DARCIE ELIZABETH (DANA) SELF, please visit our floral store.