Derek Keith Darden, 23, of Waco passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Graveside services will be 11:00 am Monday, Nov. 21 at Rosemound Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm Friday, Nov. 18 at Bellmead Funeral Home. Derek was born September 2, 1988 in Waco to Elmer and Rita (Williams) Darden. He graduated from Waco High School in 2007 and attended TSTC. He played little league baseball for 5 years and loved to watch it and football. Derek enjoyed playing Frisbee golf with his friends and always had big dreams and ideas and wanted to own his own business. He was an avid poker player and dreamed of becoming a professional player someday. Derek and his father were inseparable best friends and made many trips to the casino in Oklahoma. He is survived by his mother Rita Cohen; father Elmer Darden; sister Tracy Darden; grandmother Hazel Fulp; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and many good friends including Brantley Green, Will Bradshaw, Dwayne Sims and Mehron Azafar. The family expresses a special thank you to everyone that has helped us with this difficult time, and a special thanks to Terry and Linda Owens, Shannon Fisher, Mehron Azatar, Robb Hamlett and Tracy Darden. We loved Derek so much and will be lost without his sweet smile and caring heart. He will be greatly missed and will always be in our hearts and on our minds.