Darlene, I loved your "style."  Your home was a warm welcoming home and I always felt welcome.   When ever I go shopping in Sumner I ALWAYS point out your house with pride.    You gave me a parking space for my friends and me during the street fairs.   You gave so much of yourself.   I have wonderful memories of you and loved talking to you at family gatherings.  I  will miss you but know you are "crafting"  in Heaven.   Thank you for your many gifts.

You're all here because you were graced by my Mom's presence in your life in some way.  I'd like to share what kind of Mom she was, how fortunate I was to be her daughter, and why she will be so dearly missed.

Many may know that my Mom graduated from beauty school and was a licensed beautician.  While she did not make a career of cutting and styling hair, she was my own personal stylist well into my teen years.  When I was younger, this meant countless hours detangling and combing my fine straight hair followed by meticulous braiding some nights, rollers before special occasions, or simple ponytails on busy nights.  When I got older she spent many hours rolling tiny perm rollers, or tediously pulling just the right amount of hair through holes of the at home highlighting cap.  It took me many years to appreciate what she had really done and sacrificed for me. She gave me her time and her undivided attention and care.

She also shared her love of crafting with me. She was a talented seamstress, making many of my sister and my childhood clothes.  Her work was practically perfect; no puckered seams or snagged fabric, hems perfectly straight. You could pay for designer clothing and never get close to the same quality. An added bonus from her sewing skills were wonderful handmade Halloween costumes most years. We never had to worry about having costumes just like any other neighborhood kid; she made sure we had something unique. While she won awards for her ceramic work, she made time to teach me about ceramics as well.  I smile when I remember the times we would sit and paint together.  She would patiently explain and show me how to do the fine details just right, or add a little sparkle to a figurine's eyes.  It was always an adventure when she would take me to the ceramic shop and let me pick out my own project to work on. In fact, ceramics are some of the first things I remember giving as gifts.  I remember the funny little clown cactus planters she gave to several friends and family; I hope they still have them.  She also created sports figurines for our softball and soccer teammates, carefully personalizing them to match the girls' hair and eye color, among other things.

She was always creating something new. Occasionally we would all get together, Mom, Stacy and me and have a table at a craft fair, but most of the time she crafted to share, creating wedding, Christmas, or birthday gifts, or usually a “just because” gift when she found a project that would be perfect for one of her friends or family members.

I could go on and on about her wonderful cooking, her love of children and the childcare she provided for friends and neighbors, how she always enjoyed getting together for card nights, bunco, car club events, camping and fishing trips, or about her wonderful gardens that were more beautiful each year…there are so many special memories.  But, I think I've made the point I wanted to. My Mom was genuinely caring and generous, and whether I was 4 or 40, she always showed she cared and I knew she was always there for me. There's a giant, empty space in my life now that will never be filled, except with the memories of what she taught me and all that she did for me.

I love you Mom – I was so very lucky to have you.

Sara

The other night I laid awake most the night trying to remember the one thing about Darlene Wynn that made her special.  I thought of a lot of things but not just one thing.  First came to mind all the camping trips, like the one to Blue Lake where her & Bill took Jesse & Adam out to teach them the fine art of fishing & they got all the way across the lake & the motor wouldn't start. So Bill had to row the 4 of them back across the lake to shore & Darlene had to keep the boys calm.  Not sure who had the harder job, but some 10 years later Jesse can still tell you about it. Or the trips to Grayland, or the week at Pearrygin Lake where we saved Vinnie the baby fawn,  or maybe it was her love of the family campouts at Bumping.   Or maybe her joy of playing bunko, always ready for a round of throwing those dice & if she tried hard enough she was sure she could roll the perfect game, whatever that was.   The Christmas bunko at her house was always special & you could tell she enjoyed hosting it & getting ready for it probably all year long, picking up all the little gifts she had under her tree so when you rolled a bunko you got to pick out one.  Or maybe it was the card making parties that she would take forever to finish a card because it had to be just so.  Or maybe it was the special little handmade gifts she made & gave away with love.  I have one that is a little bunny hanging on to a great big carrot with the saying “think big” on it.  I will never forget her Poodle Dog skirt she wore for the 1999/2000 New Year's Eve party at our house & those black & white saddle shoes, she & Bill made such a cute couple.  Or all the treasures she found while Garage Sale'ing.   I'm sure she was the Queen of good bargains.  Or maybe the one thing that will always remind me of Darlene is that “damn” bright green Frog she left on my front porch the day of my 50th birthday party, only she would leave a frog on my porch.  Well, that Frog ended up back on her porch on her birthday that next December 25th.   

When I think of Darlene Wynn, I can't just think of the one thing that I'll always remember about her, it's not that one big thing she did, it was all those little things that made her that special friend.  I am thankful for all the lessons I learned from her on how to be a good wife & Mom & the best of Grandmas & an even better friend.  I know that on Friday,  February 24th heaven got even better!

I have a story about Darlene and camping at Scootney that was funny and scary-for me. She had tried for a few years to convince me to go with her and Bill to their annual camp trip to Scootney, I kept saying no because of the snakes. Darlene PROMISED me I would never see a snake, that in all the years they had been going, they never saw one. 

Well, I gave in and we went with them. As we are all sitting around a little kid's pool, I looked down and saw a HUGE snake going under my chair! I screamed, and a bunch of men came running with shovels and such to kill the snake, thinking it was a rattler, which had been spotted in the play area on grass--where they are NEVER seen!! Well, it was a bull snake, and we packed up and left and went to Sun Lakes to get away from snakes, only to see the sign as we drove in "BEWARE OF SNAKES!!!"... 

I gave Darlene the worst time after that! Aunt Jan

“Families are like quilts, lines pieced together, stitched with smiles and tears, colored with memories and bound by love”. This is from a sampler my Mom has hanging in their bedroom and I believe it suits her life very well.  Mom gifted us with all of the above…she may not have always understood us…she thought I was a little crazy for returning to school a couple years ago and for buying a motorcycle last year…but she was always supportive of us and great to our friends. 

So many of our friends, and their children, became as family to my Mom.  Just as many of her friends had become as well.  This is something important that my Mom instilled in me; the importance of family and a great network of friends. We spent many days, evenings and weekends with my parents' friends growing up.  And they are still in touch with many of those people today, and my sister and I have remained friends with some of their children, even now that we are all grown up! I have a great network of my own friends & family that I can count on, from all areas of my life.  And I thank my Mom a large part for being a great example.  That so many of you are here today proves that! She loved gatherings of family and friends.

Another area where Mom was a great example is having a wide variety of interests.  Life is never boring if you have things to do both at home and in the world.  She really loved camping and fishing.  She would have great meals planned and made the best cheesy potatoes; I have never quite replicated them.  She had the small space of the camper down to a science…no travel trailers since they needed to be able to tow a boat! Even if she stayed behind to read (and enjoy the quiet :) she would enjoy listening to our adventures when we got back. 

Mom loved cars, not mechanically so much, but for the aesthetics of them.  She always enjoyed her new cars, from the Plymouth Satellite, the Volare, the Magnum, her Saturn to the PT Cruiser.  But she really enjoyed the '55 Chevy once it was done and they had started searching for her own car to enjoy car club activities in.

Mom's gardens were always wonderful.  She took pride in the colors and placement of all her plants in the yard and had flower pots and bowls sitting and hanging all along the porch railing. Nearly every dry daylight hour from spring through the Fair was spent in the yard.  I used to come home and sometimes find her in my yard! She couldn't stand seeing the weeds, but it was also a new challenge for her.  Or I would come home and find a new flower pot in my driveway or new fuchsias in the planter on my deck. I will miss that…I hope my gardens can be half as beautiful as hers someday.

My Mom was an excellent crafter, in various things over the years.  She may not have been the fastest (remember stamping/card workshops? :), but her work was always meticulous and beautiful.  She made great dolls, Santas, snowmen, ceramics, clothes in our early years and so much more.  I have many of her works as holiday decorations.

And holidays!! Especially Christmas, she went all out.  Decorating, wonderful food, always making a great event.  We will miss her so much especially at the holidays. She always had a perfect tree and made or bought many ornaments for us, family and friends over the years.

“Look what I found!”…when I heard this I knew it was another garage sale find.  Mom LOVED garage sale'ing…finding the perfect treasure she couldn't live without, or that I needed, or my sister, or a friend  needed or she could fix up and sell for more or…So many treasures over the years…some were great, some I didn't quite understand. But Mom loved the hunt! And holding our own annual sales as well.

And the Fair…Mom loved working at the Puyallup Fair.  Every year since I was about in fourth grade; she worked first for Tacoma neighbors in their smoke/gift shop, then for the Fair selling ride tickets, later the treasury office and the last 10-15 years in one of the ice cream booths.  She loved people watching, seeing friends and the atmosphere. Connor loved to visit her booth and it has been strange to not see her there the last couple years.

And Connor…Mom loved Connor, her only grandchild, so much. He could drive her crazy at times (he tends to talk a bit :) but if it had been more than two days since she'd seen him I'd get a call that she missed him.  I hope he remembers how much she truly loved him.

Mom was so generous to us and to everyone in her life.  I thank her for all that she always did for us.  More than just “things”, she gave us genuine love and gifted us with the spirit of selflessness. She was a great example that I am glad I had in my life. I miss her so much and I hope that she knows how much she made a difference in so many lives.

Love you Always, Stacy

I met Darlene in the summer of 1962. The wife of one of my best friends in high school set us up on a blind date.  That first date didn't go well; in fact Darlene didn't want to go out with me again. I don't know what Gail said, or what kind of bribe she offered, but we went out again. That date turned out a lot better and we were together almost 50 years.

When we first got together Darlene wasn't much of an outdoor person. But during our 50 years she became a very good fisherman, liked to go camping, enjoyed the outdoors, touring with the car club.

She was a great cook and a high quality craft person. She won state awards in ceramics and sold many of her crafts.

A few of the things I remember about her that would surprise many people were her fishing exploits.  Our family would take a week fishing tour to Curlew Lake.  We always put some money in the pot for the biggest fish.  One year Darlene had the biggest fish but Leroy, a friend of the family, beat her out on the last day. The next year Leroy was ahead again. With a couple days left Darlene was trying to beat him. Most of the big fish were caught at night.  About 11 o'clock one night I tried to get her to come in but she wouldn't.  She came in the cabin at 3 or 4 in the morning; it had been raining, she was soaking wet and shivering but she had caught a big fish! It was like cuddling with an ice cube. But that year she won the pot!

Another year while salmon fishing in the bay at Point Defiance she was in the back of the boat reading a book.  I looked over and the tip of her pole was bouncing up and down.  I said, "Darlene, you have a bite." She said, "I know it. I'm letting him eat it." She caught that fish!  She didn't like river fishing, but liked the lakes and bays. She would usually catch as many or more than me.

I'm going to really miss my fishing and camping partner.  

Love always, Bill

Darlene was the sweetest lady.  We really appreciate her taking care of our little guy Dillon.  It was like going to a family members house for him where he got to play with his best buddy Connor.  She always wanted to hear a good story and share a few of her own.  I liked to hear about her garage sale finds and gardening tips and she always decorated for Christmas better than anyone I know.  We will miss her and feel blessed that she was a part of our lives.

Bill,
We are sorry for you loss.
Our thoughts are with you.

I enjoyed reading this and learning more about Darlene.  I think it's a bit sad we find out interesting things about people after they are are gone.  It just points out we all need to get to know each other better in life.  She obviously overcame a difficult start and kudos to the family who stepped up and raised her as their own.  She made a great life and family for herself.

If memory serves me right  i met Darlene and Bill in 1963. We rented a duplex right across the street from them we soon became very good friends. My children use too go play with Stacy and Sara when they lived in the A frame house. We played  cards with them and had a lot of fun. She also gave me hair cuts. I was so sad when i heard she had passed away i will always remember the good times we had together.She was a good person and would help you anyway she could!

To Bill and family,
    Gale and I are so sad for all of you . Darlene was so much fun to
be with and we will miss her. As for the Red Hat group, they  send
their good thoughts to you also.
      God Bless, Dorothy Munsey

Darlene has left all of us with great memories.She maybe gone, but she'll always be in our hearts. Just look up in the sky see the stars she'll be one of them, smiling at all of us in peace. God be you Darlene, and God bless the family.

Bill, Sorry for your loss. Ron Cook (Tacoma Wa)

Words can not describe how sad we are with the passing of such a caring, loving friend we have lost. Darlene was the first person I met when I moved down to Sumner 22 years ago. She babysat Chris, Erika and our youngest Sandy.The times we spent at Scootney jerking perch and crappies out of the lake were some of the best times of my life! She made our world a better place and we will miss her so much...
Bill, Stacy and Sarah, hang on to those precious memories and that will help you get through some of the really hard times. You are all in our thought and prayers! Darlene will always be in our hearts!

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Mom has shaped my life so much, and was always in my corner. It will be hard to move forward without that presence, but I must believe she is still there watching and is proud of what she sees. We will always Love and Miss you, Saralyn

A father's reflection of Darlene for Stacy, Sara and Bill

As you know, Darlene came to us at the age of 12 as a foster child.   Darlene's brothers lived about a mile from our house.  Jackie and I determined that we would treat her as our own daughter and as the years progressed with consent of our children, Marylu, Bryan and Christopher, we adopted her as one of the family and she was named in our will equally with the other children.  I'm sure that Darlene was unsure of us in the beginning, but soon seemed to be at home. We took her along on our trips, shows, etc. and bought her school clothes as well as good clothes with the rest of the kids.  She was also disciplined and loved same as the others.  

When she graduated from Aquinas, the $46.00 per month from the state expired, but Darlene continued to live with us until she married Bill. She went to Bates and took Cosmetology and obtained her state certificate. She took her test in Spokane and had to take the Fick girl (who lived next door to us) as her customer she worked on during her state boards.  

After she married the fun for Jackie and I really started.  We got to see her grow as a mature woman. We saw her start her household and become a mother.  Stacy was our first grandchild and we were thrilled.  I remember Sara coming into life as a preemie, I think she weighed 2-1/2 lbs when I first saw her. We enjoyed watching the two girls grow into young ladies, get married, etc.  You girls were our first grandchildren and of course Conner is our first great grandson.

Jackie and I looked forward to the annual Christmas Eve dinners because the whole family was together. We were pleased when Darlene took over the Easter Brunch's when it became too much for Jackie.

I really had a hard time seeing Darlene in the hospital; I still see her as the 12 year old girl, unsure what would happen to her.  She became a wonderful woman, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.  I am going to miss her very much.

We will all miss her terribly, but think of the wonderful times you had together and of the love she had for all of you.

I love and miss you so much Mom.  But I know you can breathe freely now.  I thank you for all that you always did from your heart for our family. Love you always, Stacy

Bill, Stacy and Sara, Please know that you are in my heart. Dar was such wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her passing has left a very big hole in this world but the good memories she left would fill a library.

Darlene was one of those truly amazing people that accepted everyone just for who they were.  That makes her a truly special cuz in my life.  I will miss her.  Cuz Joe

We will all miss Darlene and her upbeat personality.  Through all of her problems, she always appeared positive.  What a lesson I have learned from her.  Bill will muddle through this but I know he is sure she is in a better place now than the last few months of her life.  Stacy, Sara and Bill will be in our thoughts and prayers.  Take care and know that people are here if you need them and feel free to take advantage of that.  Love, Linda & Jim Francis

I am blessed to have had such a wonderful person in my life. Darlene was like a mom to me as I was growing up with her daughters Stacy and Sara. She was beautiful inside and out and will be missed by everyone who had the blessing of knowing her.

OBITUARIO

Darlene Ann Wynn

25 diciembre, 1942 – 24 febrero, 2012

Powers Funeral Home

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