Rachel & Kevin Durham

Ever since the start of 2020, we’ve all faced challenges and battles due to the way our lives have been changed. We’ve all had to adapt to an entirely new way of living. While many of us have been fortunate enough to get by during these past few years without too much loss, many in our community have suffered greatly and have had their entire world forever changed. And yet, through all of this pain and struggle, they still have so much to hope for and look forward to. The Durham family has been part of our community in Weston Lakes for many years now and has lost their loving father and husband, Kevin Durham. As painful as this loss has been and still is, their lives have been filled with so much joy and love, both in the past and today.

Rachel and Kevin Durham both grew up in Denton, Texas, and met one another in the 10th grade. Since then, they have always been together. Kevin went to A&M for college, and in their years together, they lived in Victoria, Texas; Norway; and Louisiana. However, in 2011 they agreed that they wanted to move back to Texas to raise their daughter here. In 2012, Kevin picked a house in Weston Lakes. They fell in love with the neighborhood, the friendly people and privacy, the golf course and big lots, and the feel of being close to the country. Kevin said he was willing to make the long drive from here to his work so long as they could live here. They spent many joyful years together in their home here in Weston Lakes.

Unfortunately, their happy lives here couldn’t last forever. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, it changed a lot of lives, but the Durhams suffered from an entirely different tragedy. April 2020, Kevin had his first virtual doctor’s appointment and was soon diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Quarantine turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it allowed him to do his work from home while his condition worsened. As news of his illness spread, their family and the community all came together to offer all the care and support they could to the family. Despite their help and care, the disease worked quickly. He soon lost his ability to walk and by August he was essentially paraplegic, so they modified their home to accommodate him. He passed away on Nov. 5, 2021.

The family will never be the same after this loss; however, this pain didn’t stop the arrival of joy into their lives. Rachel is expecting her and Kevin’s first grandchild in the summer from their oldest son, Michael Durham. Their youngest child and daughter, Morgan, is soon to be married. Even after experiencing such loss, their family is still full of so much joy and love. Even though Kevin no longer walks this earth, the love and joy he brought to his family will forever be there, and will forever grow through them.