Darlene was the daughter of Paul and Nora Alline (Beshore) Holland and was born in her home in Nevada, MO on December 6, 1936. She shared this home with her older sister, Pauline Geyer and two younger brothers, Charles and Paul Holland.
Darlene fell in love with a young boy from Sheldon, MO, Donald Lee Doolin, and the couple celebrated their marriage at the Sheldon Baptist Church on March 21, 1953. As a young bride, the call of the U.S. Navy came in her life as Donald sailed the seas on the USS Sandoval at the end of the Korean War. Darlene resided in the home of her parents during Donald’s tour of duty and gave birth to their first-born child, a daughter, Diana Doolin, while he was at sea.
Prior to her marriage, Darlene shared her home with one older sister, Pauline Geyer and two younger brothers, Charles Holland and Paul Holland in Nevada, MO. She quickly learned the value of work as the middle child, helping with the livestock and assigned daily chores from her parents on their small acreage. Throughout her life, Darlene became a major stabilizing force in her parent’s home, along with her sister, Pauline. Darlene often answered the call in times of crisis and tragedy and quickly learned the value of self-sacrifice which became a major character trait of her life.
After Donald’s return from service in the Navy, Darlene resided not only in Sheldon, MO but also in Grants, New Mexico as Donald was employed by the Phillips Petroleum Company mining uranium. It was in Grants, that Darlene forged some of her most precious relationships with family and friends with trips to the mountains, all night card games, practical jokes, and nervously waiting to hear the status of mine workers during mine emergencies. It was also in Grants she raised her two young daughters, Diana and Debbie, and conceived her last child, a son, Daniel Doolin before returning to the Missouri.
Darlene returned to Sheldon, Missouri with her family in 1962 and gave birth to Daniel on September 30, 1962. It was in Sheldon, that Darlene raised her three children in the house across the street from the Sheldon High School until they built their home on the small acreage near Rouser Town, north of Sheldon. After Donald’s retirement, Darlene relocated to Stockton Lake where she and Donald started the endless remodeling of their home, crappie fishing and sharing life with Gerald and Aileen Beeny and her sister and brother-in-law, Pauline and Eldean Geyer. During her time at Sheldon, she worked in various jobs: Keys Industries, Nevada, MO, The Nevada State Hospital Laundry, homemaker and caretaker for her grandchildren, and cook at the Sheldon School. She also worked as a home health aide for Heartland during her residence at Stockton Lake.
Aside from her formal places of employment, she was found faithfully at the side of her husband, remodeling and building their homes, preparing for weekly trips to Stockton Lake, managing the finances of the home, caring for her children and grandchildren, and preparing for the multiple gatherings of family and friends at her home. Her greatest attribute came during the latter years of her life with Donald in their home in Lamar, MO as she cared for him until his death with mesothelioma on March 26, 2014. Following her husband’s death, she resided in Lamar, MO until she relocated to her apartment in Nevada, MO. Due to declining health, Darlene transitioned into the Nevada Medicalodges for the past three years. She came to accept the transition to the Medicalodges as her new home and formed many wonderful relationships with staff, fellow residents and their families. She was known as “Grandma” or simply “Doolin”. She was a dedicated Kansas City Chiefs fan and follower of Fox News. Even though Darlene never earned her high school diploma, she was savvy to world events and could talk about any issue in the news cycle with great clarity. Her Bible was read, studied and highlighted in various places leaving a testament to her faith and hope as she embraced the world she lived in.
Darlene was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, beginning her relationship with Christ after the tragic death of her father in 1978. She is a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lamar and has served as mission volunteer/cook with Southern Baptists in Tennessee and Iowa.
Darlene loved her parents and 3 siblings, her husband and 3 children, and especially her 9 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and was anticipating the arrival of her third great-great-grandchild next month. She also loved the many people who knew her as friend, co-worker, or surrogate grandmother.
Survivors include her daughter, Diana Leininger and Greg, Nevada; her son, Daniel Doolin and Lori, Lake Worth, FL; her son-in-law, Michael Hudson, Milo, MO; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great- grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Nora Alline (Beshore) Holland; 1 sister, Pauline Geyer; 2 brothers, Paul and Charles Holland; her husband, Donald; 1 daughter, Debbie Hudson; and one infant great-grandson, Blake Hart.
Darlene’s family will receive friends from 6:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Ferry Funeral Home, with a Celebration of Life to follow from 7:00-7:30p.m.
Funeral services will be at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Ferry Funeral Home with Darlene’s son, Daniel Doolin, officiating. Burial will follow at 1:30p.m. at the Fort Scott National Cemetery, Fort Scott, KS.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Wreaths Across America in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.
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