DeMarcus Huddleston

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- DeMarcus Rontez "DMarc" Huddleston, 25, formerly of Jackson, passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, as the result of a car accident near his home in Murphysboro.

He was born Feb. 3, 1990, in Kennett, Missouri, to DeWande Marie Huddleston and Dary Wayne McIntyre Sr.

He was a 2008 graduate of Jackson High School, excelling in wrestling, football and track.

While attending Southeast Missouri State University, he played rugby. He received a bachelor's degree from Southeast in 2013.

DeMarcus became a Boy Scout at the age of 12 and became an Eagle Scout at the age of 18. He thoroughly enjoyed the many opportunities and challenges Scouting offered to him. He was a grub master, a Scout leader and worked several years at Camp Lewellan.

DeMarcus even became employed as a recruit executive with the Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America and had been living in Herrin, Illinois, the past year.

DeMarcus could light up a room with his positive attitude and bright smile. He accepted Christ as his Savior at a very young age and was a member of New Horizon Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. He sang in the church choir and helped out wherever he could.

Having become a father in 2013 to "Little Princess" Zipporah, he recently helped establish Father's Voice, an organization founded to give fathers a united voice while supporting their cause for equal rights with their children.

DeMarcus will be missed greatly by his loving family and countless friends.

To mourn his passing, he leaves his daughter, Zipporah Kolby Bley of Franklin, Kentucky; his mother, DeWande Huddleston of Jackson; five siblings, Dary Wayne McIntyre Jr. of Cape Girardeau, LaDarrius McIntyre of Hayti, Missouri, DeNiqua Sh'Von Huddleston and DeMesha ShunTrice Huddleston of Jackson and Amya McIntyre of North Carolina; a niece, D'Mia LaShay Willis of Jackson; maternal grandparents, Gwyndle (the Rev. Howard) McGee Jr. of Cape Girardeau and Otis (Ethel) Taylor of St. Louis; paternal grandmother, Geneva Luster of Hayti; maternal aunt, Yvonne Huddleston of Blytheville, Arkansas; maternal uncle, Eric Huddleston of Dexter, Missouri; and a host of uncles, aunties and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dary Wayne McIntyre Sr.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with his grandfather, the Rev. Howard McGee Jr., officiating.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America, 3000 Gordonville Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.