Darlene Virginia Cole

Darlene was born on December 8, 1934 to Floyd and Marguerite Slaymaker in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was a graduate of McKinley High School and always had a great love for music and women’s basketball. She began teaching accordion shortly after graduating from high school and met her first husband, Gene Cole, through one of her students. They married in March of 1956 and started their family. They moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in August of 1969. Once in Arizona, she started her own accordion school and taught for over 45 years. She made a positive impact in the lives of so many young people….. arranging competitions, travel and fun for all of her students.

Darlene met her second husband, James Heberling in 1991 while working at TRW. They married in February of 1993. They both had a great love of the outdoors and spent time traveling by land, sea and air to multiple countries and throughout the United States. When not travelling, they could be found two-stepping at their favorite country bar (the Buffalo Bar % Grill in Payson, Arizona where they had a cabin). Her most recent travel included a cruise in 2017 to Alaska where she celebrated her son’s 30th wedding anniversary, and a trip with her daughter cruising to the British Isles in July 2019.

Darlene was very active in church service throughout her life demonstrating both her love of God and children, especially in Arizona where she was a long time member of the Church of the Holy Cross. While a member, she led the choir, organized and taught vacation bible school, and served on many board positions over the years. Most recently she could be found worshipping at Christ Lutheran where she enjoyed the contemporary music service and fellowship with friends.

Aside from these activities her other passions included sewing, spending time with her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and selling Mary Kay Cosmetics.

In addition to her parents, Darlene was predeceased by her husband James Heberling. Darlene is survived by her daughter, Valerie Tichenor (Mark), her son, Douglas Cole (Annelise), both of Scottsdale. Darlene has six grandchildren, Justin Cole of Scottsdale, Krystina Hays of Oceanside, CA, Elizabeth Lopez (Cruz) of Norfolk, VA, Chase Rogers of San Diego, CA, Jordan Whiton (Jeffrey) of Boise, ID and Bryan MacFarlane (Karyn) of Lake Isabella, CA. She also leaves behind 7 great grandchildren and her beloved Maltese puppy “Lilly”.

The family is planning a small private service and ask that in lieu of flowers, that memorial donations be made to the Musical Instrument Museum in honor of her great love for all music. Donations can be made online at https://mim.org/support-mim/ or checks can be mailed to the MIM at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050.