ROY -- The last time BreKlyn Darcey saw her father, he gave her a dollar bill on her third birthday and told her to buy something good with it. For BreKlyn, that was the perfect gift because, according to her mother, Casi Darcey, the toddler was always asking her daddy for money.
It was also the last gift that Malachi Darcey would give to either of his little girls.
After spending time on Saturday with BreKlyn and 4-year-old daughter MaKiya, the 30-year-old man went to the Outlaw Saloon in West Haven. Authorities still don't know exactly what happened when Darcey and his group left the saloon early Sunday morning, but a fight broke out with another group and it took the life of a man known as a loving father.
"I just want everyone to realize that they took a wonderful, wonderful dad away from two beautiful girls," said Casi Darcey, who said she and Malachi had been separated for about four months. "He was just an awesome guy who would do anything for anybody."
Casi said Darcey was a father who absolutely cherished his daughters. He spent his free time taking his girls fishing, tubing behind a boat, snowmobiling, four-wheeling and bike riding.
Then there were the special times when he'd take them to parks, often making sacrifices for those outings.
"He'd actually take days off from work when he was missing them, just to spend time with his kids," she said.
The quality time had an effect on the young Darceys.
"I liked sliding," BreKlyn said when her mom asked her what she liked doing with her daddy.
MaKiya also had a quick answer to the question. "I liked coloring."
Darcey had special nicknames for his girls, calling MaKiya his "little monkey" because she climbed on anything she could and BreKlyn his "little snowman" after the two were pictured during the winter with BreKlyn all bundled up in the cold.
While they know their dad is gone, the girls don't really know exactly what has gone on over the past three days, Casi said.
"They're not really understanding, they just tell everyone that their daddy is in heaven and they look up at the clouds, and that's how they know where their daddy is," Casi said.
But one day they'll understand what happened early Sunday morning when their dad was rushed to McKay-Dee Hospital after suffering a severe head injury and then why, on Monday, he died after being taken off life support.
Investigators are still working the case, with no new information released on Tuesday, but Casi hopes that soon there will be closure and those responsible will be held accountable,
"For the kids' sake, it's very important, but that's all I can say on it," Casi said. "I just want there to be justice for my girls."
Donations are being accepted for expenses and the future of Darcey's daughters at any Golden West Credit Union or any major credit union in Utah through an account in Malachi Darcey's name.
Those donations will help the girls later in life, as could what might end up being another gift from Darcey to his girls. As Casi went through pictures the last couple of days to prepare a tribute to Darcey for his funeral, she noticed something special about all the photos she found of her husband.
"Every last one of them, him and his kids," Casi said. "He'd lie in bed with them. He'd wake up with them and put them to sleep. He did everything with his kids."
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