Darryl Emmitt Searuggs was born on December 11, 1961, in Denver, Colorado to Emmitt Searuggs Jr and Ruth (Collins) Searuggs. He loved being an older brother to Angelique Searuggs.

Growing up in Denver’s African American neighborhood located in the northern section of Park Hill, Darryl lived under the shadow of airplanes arriving and departing from Stapleton International Airport. At four years old, Darryl was treated by his aunt Everne to his first ride in an airplane from Chicago to Denver. This ride turned out to be monumental in his life as it was then he made the decision of a lifetime to pursue becoming a pilot. The year was 1966 and there were only a handful of African American airline pilots.

In 1972, Darryl’s father Emmitt started Boy Scout Troop 487, serving the neighborhood boys of Park Hill. It was during this time Darryl came to enjoy camping, hiking and fishing among other things. Tennis, marching band, running track and basketball were other joys he had while growing up.

As a teenager in high school, Darryl was a member of the Civil Air Patrol located at the United Training Center at Stapleton International Airport. In 1979, at the age of 17, through the sacrifices of his parents, while still in high school, Darryl earned his Private Pilot License. He took lessons at Judson Flying Services located at the airport in Longmont, Colorado.

After graduating from George Washington High School in 1980, Darryl earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Metropolitan State University of Denver and was commissioned into the United States Air Force as an officer through the ROTC program at the University of Colorado Boulder. In January 1985, as a Second Lieutenant, Darryl started pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi. Darryl graduated pilot training in March 1986, and went on to proudly serve his country for 22 years.

During his 11 years on active duty, Darryl flew the C-141B Starlifter at McChord AFB in Tacoma, WA and served as an instructor pilot on the T-38 Talon at Vance AFB in Enid Oklahoma. Notably, he was a 1991 Operation Desert Storm War Veteran and also flew multiple Presidential and Vice-Presidential support missions; to include flying into Combs Flight Service at Stapleton International Airport.

During his 11 years as a reservist, Darryl continued to fly the C-141B Starlifter at McChord AFB and served as an Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO) for the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an ALO, Darryl helped identify, mentor, guide, interview and evaluate potential candidates to the nation’s best military academy. In 2007, Darryl retired from the military with the rank of Major as a Command Pilot.

In September 1984, while waiting to go to pilot training, Darryl met the love of his life, Shari (Holliness) Searuggs, while working security at the Martin Marietta Data Systems facility where Shari worked in Englewood, Colorado. After 18 months of dating, Darryl and Shari got married on March 22, 1986, at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. Darryl and Shari were together nearly 41 years with 39 years of that time being married.

During their time together, Darryl and Shari shared numerous hobbies. They loved to bowl, snowshoe, hike and ride bikes, and held season passes to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The two of them enjoyed sports and for years had season tickets to the USAFA Fighting Falcons football team; however, they were sometimes on opposing sides as Shari is a Los Angeles Lakers fan to Darryl’s hometown Denver Nuggets and most unfortunately, a (whatever city they are in now) Raider’s fan to Darryl’s hometown Denver Broncos.

In the early hours on July 4th, 1989, in Enid, Oklahoma, Darryl’s pride and joy, his eldest child and only daughter, Jasmine Antonia Searuggs, was born, though not even that could not stop him from getting BBQ that evening. Twenty months later, on March 5, 1991, Darryl’s “mini-me”, his youngest child and only son, Dominique Jerrell Searuggs, came into the world less dramatically, in Seattle, Washington, at the hospital Grey’s Anatomy is based on. Darryl and Shari spent their time supporting both of their children in all their many, many endeavors. Darryl shared his love for travel and the Denver Broncos. Even with a career that had him constantly traveling the world, Darryl made sure to be home for his kids: birthdays, recitals, games, major milestones, graduations, etc.

Darryl moved the family to Aurora, Colorado in 2000 so that they could be closer to his Mom and Dad, his in-laws, sister Angie and her two kids Tarrell and Thailia. He loved that his children would be able to grow up knowing and being around family. He cherished all the moments spent together. In 2023, Darryl took on the role of General Contractor for the designing and building of his and Shari’s forever home. Darryl knew every nook and cranny, every nut and bolt, every design feature of the home. In July 2024, Darryl and Shari moved into that home, with endless views of the mountains.

In 1995, Darryl Searuggs also earned a Master of Science in Aeronautics degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

In 1996, Darryl joined FedEx where he flew the B-727 and MD-11 as a second officer and first officer. In 2017, Darryl became a Captain on his favorite aircraft – the Boeing 777 – based out of Memphis, Tennessee. It was during this time that Darryl was afforded the opportunity to travel the globe many times over and really experience, embrace and enjoy the countries and cultures he was visiting. His favorite places to fly to were Singapore, Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia. Darryl flew his final flight in December 2017 before going on disability.

On October 8, 1972, Darryl Searuggs was baptized at Park Hill Christian Church along with his father Emmitt Searuggs, Jr and his sister Angelique. For the remainder of his life, Darryl would keep his faith and serve the church. In June 2017, Darryl graduated with a Master of Divinity from Denver’s Iliff School of Theology. Darryl was an ordained minister in the “Christian Church Disciples of Christ” (DOC) and served as an Associate Pastor at First Christian Church, Colorado Springs until October 2018 and then at Lakewood Christian Church. As a faithful Christian and Pastor, Darryl participated in the life of the church. He served on multiple boards for DOC, taught workshops, mentored new Christian believers, and did many other acts of service for the Church and community.

Darryl Searuggs was dedicated to actively serving his community. Most near and dear to his heart was working with the talented team of coordinators of the Mile High Flight Program sponsored by the Hubert L. "Hooks" Jones Chapter - Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. They endeavored to ensure opportunities were presented and made available to middle and high school aged students hailing from all communities, but especially those underrepresented in the fields of aviation, aerospace, and the science and technology studies. The Mile High Flight Program honors the World War II Tuskegee Airmen Pilots who were unable to pursue careers as airline pilots once the war had ended. Many of the former students are now flying for the military, FedEx, Delta, United and others.

Darryl loved to cook and grill while hosting a myriad of family and friends all through the year, but especially large gatherings during the holidays. He was known for making several different styles of homemade barbecue sauces; with his signature being Jet Blast. Darryl found joy in showing Shari the world; their spirit of adventure took them to four of the world’s continents – Australia, Africa, Europe and North America. Darryl and Shari also enjoyed traveling the Caribbean staying at Sandals Resorts properties with their chosen family.

In 2007, Darryl was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). 17 years later, in 2024, he had a successful stem cell transplant. He fought to the end and was surrounded by his family when he passed from this life into his eternal rest.

Captain Darryl Emmitt Searuggs is preceded in death by his parents, Elder Emmitt Jr and Ruth Searuggs; father-in-law Eddie Holliness; sister-in-law Karen Richard and niece Yvette Richard. He is survived by his best friend and devoted wife Shari Lynn Searuggs; daughter Jasmine Antonia Searuggs; son Dominique Jerrell Searuggs; sister Angelique Searuggs; aunt Murdy Smith; mother-in-law Mary Ann Holliness; brothers-in-law Randall Holliness and Carl Richard; nieces Thailia Rodrigues, Delaney Richard and Kayla Holliness; nephews Tarrell Packard-Rodrigues (and family), Donovan Richard, Garrett Richard (and family) and Jackson Holliness and a host of cousins and many other relatives and friends.

Darryl’s life was all about the 4 F’s: Faith, Family, Flying and Friendship. He danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings…put out his hand and touched the face of God on July 28, 2025. He will be deeply missed.