In Sugar Mill Pond, Harry Darce is a familiar face to many, whether it’s through a friendly conversation, a shared church connection, or one of his proudly posted family photos. But behind those snapshots is something even more meaningful: a lifetime devoted to being a father, a grandfather, and now a great-grandfather to a growing family that continues to reflect the values he’s spent decades building.

Born and raised in the small town of Baldwin, Harry graduated from Franklin High School in 1960 and briefly attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before life quickly called him in a different direction. With the Vietnam War on the horizon and a future with his wife, Gerry already in motion, he made a decision that would shape the rest of his life—he got married, started working, and stepped fully into adulthood.

What followed was a more than 50-year career in the steel fabrication industry—one that began as a helper and grew into a role as Vice President—along with a calling to serve as a deacon in the Catholic Church, and most importantly, a life centered around family.

Harry and Gerry raised four children, all of whom are now married, and their family now includes 12 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Along the way, their family has grown even larger through marriage, bringing more loved ones into their lives. It’s the kind of legacy that doesn’t happen by accident.

For Harry, fatherhood has always been about two things: faith and presence.

“Our faith and our family have been the greatest joy,” he says.

From the very beginning, he and Gerry were intentional about what they wanted to pass down, not just providing for their children, but guiding them. They emphasized faith, involvement in the church, and the importance of staying connected as a family. Whether it was public school or homeschooling, Harry and Gerry supported their children wholeheartedly, and later, extended that same support and respect to the way their children chose to raise their own families.

Looking back, Harry says what makes him most proud isn’t just what his children have accomplished, but who they’ve become: good men and women.

“They stayed close to their faith, and they’ve built strong families of their own,” he says.

Now, as “Paw Paw Harry,” he’s had the unique joy of watching his children step into the role he once held. It’s a perspective that has only deepened his appreciation for fatherhood.

“We’re always excited watching them raise their own kids,” he says. “Children have a way of keeping families together. They bring everyone back, back to each other and to God.”

Although his and Maw Maw Gerry’s roles may look different now, the heart behind them hasn’t changed. As grandparents and great-grandparents, they treasure the opportunity to slow down.

“You have more time to sit and listen,” Gerry says. “To really connect.”

And if there’s one message Harry hopes today’s fathers take to heart, it’s this:

“Don’t get too caught up in trying to give your kids everything the world says they need,” he says. “Sometimes what they really need is just you. Be there. Spend as much time with them as you can.”

It’s advice that comes from experience. Throughout his career, Harry’s work often required travel, taking him away from home more than he would have liked.

“When you can be home, be home,” he says. “That time matters.”

It’s a simple truth, but one that defines the kind of father he has always strived to be: present, steady, and rooted in what matters most.

That same commitment has shaped his marriage to Gerry, which has spanned more than 60 years. Married at just 18 and 20, the two built their family side by side, grounded in faith and a shared sense of purpose.

“You can’t do it without God,” Gerry says. “It has to be the three of you. And you have to listen, forgive, and stick it out through everything.”

Together, they’ve created something far bigger than themselves. They've created a family defined not just by its size, but by its closeness.

When asked what he hopes his children and grandchildren remember most, Harry doesn’t hesitate.

“How much we loved them,” he says. “And that we took the time to listen.”

In the end, that may be the greatest measure of a father—not what he provides, but how he shows up.

And in Harry Darce’s case, it’s a legacy that will continue to live on for generations to come.