Derek Duane Hall

Derek could make you laugh. Derek Duane Hall was a sharply humorous, dedicated, loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He passed away at the age of 40 on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA. He fought a tough eight-month battle against Cholangiocarcinoma with strength and courage. He continued to work through those months to provide for his young family, displaying his strong work ethic and dedication to his employer and customers. He is survived by his wife Erin, children Hayden (11) and Emily (7), his parents Gene (Rick) and Annette, sister Denise (husband Jeff and daughter Kaylie), aunts, uncles, cousins, his loving Cox in-laws, and many great friends. Despite the pain, Derek was a warrior and stayed strong until the end.

Derek was born in Washington State, but spent most of his young life in Rowland Heights, CA. Growing up, Derek had a passion for rebuilding cars and was a talented model builder. He was skilled at finessing fine intricate details. Derek graduated from Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, CA, Class of 1998. After taking several classes at Fullerton College, he entered the Auto Industry. His career took him from Sales to Internet Manager and finally Operations Manager and Director of Sales at Saleen, an American manufacturer of high-performance sports cars and trucks. Derek’s gift for fine details as a child served him well through his career. He was known for his excellent customer service skills, making sure every customer was well-cared for.

On February 17, 2007, Derek married the light of his life, Erin Elizabeth Cox. A perfect match; Derek loved his wife deeply and passionately. They enjoyed their time together working on home improvement projects to getaways on an open road and adventures in the great outdoors. Derek loved his babies. He had an amazing connection with his children, a true hands-on father with patience to show his children how to do something from beginning to end. If you had the honor of visiting Derek at his home, you knew he was a talented chef who loved to cook for his family and friends. Derek’s most relaxed, happy place was “kicking back” around a campfire. He thoroughly enjoyed camping with his family and friends, enjoying trail rides on quads.

Since Derek’s death, many have written about how special he was and the impact he had on their life. He was cherished and respected by so many across this great country he loved. They recall how Derek was a true friend and would help out at a moment’s notice. He was a reliable and trustworthy man. They recall his remarkable knowledge of the industry he served and his numerous connections. Most of all, they recall the sheer pleasure of his company, how good he made them feel, how free they were to be themselves around him, and how much they will miss him. Derek made you feel special.

Due to Covid-19 a memorial was not able to be held immediately.

Currently, a Celebration of Life will be held in honor of Derek on April 10, 2021. Plans and arrangements will be announced at a later date.

Should you wish to remember Derek in a special way, donating to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation at cholangiocarcinoma.org would always be appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Derek Duane Hall, please visit our floral store.