Alva Darrell Devers, PhD. Obituary

Alva Darrell “Darrell” Devers, PhD, beloved husband, son and father, passed away peacefully at the Twin Oaks Manor in Booker, Texas, on January 13, 2025.

Born on January 19, 1938, he was the eldest of two boys born to June and Alta Faye Devers of Beaver, Oklahoma. Darrell was a man of many talents, ambitions, and accomplishments. As a young man, Darrell helped support the small family ranch dutifully completing his chores, namely cowboy tasks such as mending fences, fixing water tanks and windmills, and helping his dad raise cattle and crops. Growing up, Darrell was very involved in school, attending Beaver High School where he participated in FFA and sports including football as a running back, basketball, baseball, and track where he ran a fast 440, and graduated in 1956.

Darrell’s academic studies earned him a scholarship to the Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College (PAMC) in Goodwell, Oklahoma. While there, he studied pre-engineering/pre-med and played varsity baseball. Darrell transferred to Oklahoma State University to complete his BS and MS degrees in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering. Darrell took a job with Martin Marietta Corporation in Denver, Colorado as an engineer specializing in structural dynamics, vibrations, controls and aeroelasticity (rocket science).

Darrell readily adapted to life as a young professional in the city. He made new friends and picked up skiing and golf. In 1966, Darrell married Valere “Val” Marie Hecker, and they brought a daughter into the world, Koka Dalene. While being a new father and an up-an-coming engineer, Darrell found time to enjoy his favorite hobby of downhill skiing. He managed to “carve” out enough time to volunteer for the Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol. Taking long motorcycle trips with family also became a yearly summer event in the Colorado mountains.

In 1968, Martin Marietta selected Darrell as an industrial research fellow to pursue a doctorate in Engineering at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, Tennessee. After obtaining his doctorate in 1972, Darrell returned to Denver as an advanced technology and research engineer. He worked on numerous space programs such as Titan Launch Vehicles, Space Shuttle, and various satellite programs. In the fall of 1978, he participated in a joint university/industrial exchange program and spent a year and half as a Professor of Engineering at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Darrell then returned to Martin Marietta in Denver to lead the engineering effort on the MX (Peacekeeper) ICBM Program. This endeavor was followed by Chief Engineer and Technical Director roles on the small ICBM, Atlas, and Titan IV Launch Vehicle Programs. Over the years at Martin Marietta, Darrell was chosen for the coveted “Engineer of the Year” award three times - the only individual to achieve that honor more than once in over 40 years.

In 1996 Darrell married Elizabeth “Beth” Walker. Later that year, Darrell’s father, June, was diagnosed with cancer so Darrell took early retirement to return home to spend some quality time with his dad. Darrell and Beth made their home less than a mile from where he had grown up. Darrell’s dad passed in 1998.

Darrell took care of his mother who remained in the family home her grandfather homesteaded in 1903. He purchased a couple of sections of ranch land on either side of his mom’s place, turning the whole outfit into a nice working ranch, raising red angus cattle. Darrell spent most of this time with family, the ranch, church, and community activities. Darrell served as board member of the Methodist Church in Booker, Texas and helped his neighbors and friends with spring round ups and advising on pasture and crop management. In addition to his daughter, Darrell gained two stepchildren through Beth - Chris Cockreham and Jennifer Patrick, and three grandchildren - Katherine Cockreham-Hensley, Addison Patrick, and Logan Patrick.

Although busy with ranch life, Darrell did consult for the Space Program on occasion. This duty included being a technical advisor following the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy. He would check cattle in the morning, catch a ride with Beth up to Liberal, Kansas, where he would be flown by private jet to meet with NASA and government officials in Cape Canaveral to investigate the re-entry problems that had occurred. His dad would often ask Darrell what had happened, to which he would reply “it’s classified” with a dry smile.

Over the past several years, Darrell’s son, Chris Cockreham, has assumed the herd with Darrell’s bits of ranch wisdom always available. Darrell always considered himself very fortunate to have grown up in the Panhandle, graduate from BHS, complete college, and enter the space program at its embryonic stage; seeing it sprout, bloom and blossom into the mature industry of today. Darrell was always grateful that “math” was his “toolbox” that he could use to solve whatever problem needed solving.

Darrell is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Beth” Walker Devers of Beaver, Oklahoma; daughter, Koka Dalene Devers (husband, John Kivett) of Las Vegas, Nevada; son, Chris Cockreham (wife, Jennifer) and granddaughter, Katherine Cockerham (husband, Kaden Hensley) all of Woodward, Oklahoma; daughter, Jennifer Patrick of Lubbock, Texas, and grandsons Addison Patrick of Starkville, Mississippi and Logan Patrick of Norman, Oklahoma.  Darrell is also survived by his brother Jerry Devers (wife, Sharon) of Rutheron, New Mexico; nephew, Jay Devers of Folsom, New Mexico; niece, Pam Archuleta of Las Lunes, New Mexico; and many more loving cousins, relatives, and dear friends.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, June and Alta Faye Devers and his former wife, Valere “Val” Marie Hecker.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Boxwell Brothers Chapel located at 302 South Main in Booker, Texas. A family visitation will be Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  Service for Darrell will be held Thursday morning at ten o’clock, January 16th at the Booker Methodist Church located at 412 Eastern Street in Booker, Texas. Procession will directly follow the service, and interment will be at Sophia Cemetery located at EW 32 Road/NS 145 Road in Beaver County, Oklahoma.

Darrell’s family extends a heartfelt thanks to Darrell and Beth’s neighbors, Bimbo and Jennifer Havens.

Please send flowers or condolences to Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Perryton. You may also visit Darrell’s obituary page at: https://www.boxwellbros.com/.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sophia Cemetery (146545 EW 34th, Laverne, Oklahoma 73848), or a charity of your choice.