Darrell Dewey Noe was a longtime educator in Dallas whose passion for helping children led to a lengthy career with Dallas school district's Multiple Careers Magnet Center, where he taught special-needs children.

"He just loved kids," said his daughter, Stacy D'An Coffman. "He truly had an interest in them."

Mr. Noe, 68, died Thursday of complications from diabetes at Mesquite Specialty Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Laurel Oaks Funeral Home Chapel.

Mr. Noe was born in Burbank, Calif., and moved with his family several times before landing in Edmond, Okla., where he graduated from Edmond High School in 1961.

He briefly attended the University of Central Oklahoma, where he met his future wife. She was attending school at nearby Oklahoma Christian College and later accepted a teaching job in Mesquite.

Mr. Noe soon followed and found work as a credit manager at a department store. Eventually, he decided that teaching interested him, too. He began taking courses at East Texas State University, now Texas A&M-Commerce, and in 1976, he earned his bachelor's degree in science.

Two years later, he earned a master's degree in science and began teaching construction trades at Waxahachie High School.

"He could build anything; he could do anything," his daughter said. "If someone needed anything, he was the person they would call."

After four years in Waxahachie, Mr. Noe started work at the Multiple Careers Magnet Center in Dallas. He taught special-needs children there until his retirement in 2004.

"He was thrilled to death to go work with the special-needs kids," said his wife, Sherry J. Noe of Mesquite. "He just thought they were wonderful."

Mr. Noe often went above and beyond his job description, a former co-worker said.

"If he saw a student that needed shoes or jackets, he would go out and buy them," said Annie Hordge, a former teacher's assistant to Mr. Noe. "He would do all of these things without recognition.

"Everything to him was all about the kids. He would never put them down. He would show them how to do things and really challenge them in a positive way."

Mr. Noe's daughter said he inspired her career choice.

"I am a teacher, just like my dad and my mom," Ms. Coffman said. "Family always came first with him, but he was so caring and he loved teaching those kids."

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Noe is survived by his son, Sean Erick Noe of Crandall; one sister, Diane Archer of Tulsa, Okla.; and five grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Genesis Women's Shelter in Dallas.