Darrell Blout

Darrell Blout, 58, of rural Smithfield, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 1:11 p.m. He was born in Canton, Illinois, on February 12, 1967, to Allen and Clarice (Leininger) Blout. He was preceded in death by his father and nephew, Terry Blout. Darrell is survived by his mother; his daughter, Emily Blout; stepdaughter, Katie (Stephen) Little; one brother, Dale (Kim) Blout; three sisters, Sheila Blout, Kathi (Chris) Harmon, and Rita (Joe) Casey; a niece and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Darrell is a 1985 graduate of Spoon River Valley High School and had the honor of receiving his diploma from his father who was a School Board member at the time. He developed a knack for mechanics at a young age while helping on the family farm with his father and grandfather, so it was only natural for him to attend Spoon River College to study diesel mechanics. After college, he initially worked as a diesel mechanic at Deere Crossing south of Avon, Illinois, but eventually returned to farming and began raising his own livestock and growing his own crops. At some point he bought his first semi tractor and began trucking also. Farming and trucking were his two greatest passions. He was never more content than when he was in the elds or in his semi. He enjoyed it even more when his daughter was able to assist him in continuing to move the grain from the combine to semis and the bins while Darrell harvested and (as needed) hauled grain to the elevator. Emily shadowed her dad from a very young age like Darrell did with his father to learn the ropes and became his right-hand “man”. He did not shy away from teaching her his favorite past time was stock tractor pulling with his friends at various county fairs and other pulling events and even had the pleasure of finally convincing his 70-year-old father to pull with him a few times. After years of frequently asking Darrell if she could pull also, he finally allowed her when she was of age. He enjoyed pulling with Emily in addition to watching John Wayne movies together. Darrell was a caring and loving son, brother, and father. Per his wishes, there will be no visitation or service. Cremation rites will be accorded through Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Canton. A celebration of life will be held in the form of a breakfast buffet in his honor at Fairview Café, 365 Carter Street, Fairview, Illinois, on Saturday, February 7, from 9:00 to11:00; American Grill’s event room, 525 South 5TH Street, Canton, Illinois, on Saturday, February 7, from 1:30 to 3:30; Pottsie’s event room east/right of the bar, 300 East Main Street, Cuba, Illinois on Sunday, February

8, from 12:00 to 4:00.

Memorials may be made to Spoon River College Foundation - Diesel Mechanics Dept for a scholarship in his name. Make checks payable to: Spoon River College Foundation, Darrell Blout Scholarship.

Online condolences can be left at www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com.