Darlene Eaken

Darlene Eakin, 67, of Bend and formerly of Union County died Nov. 11 at her home after a long illness. A celebration of life will begin at 4 p.m. Friday at the Christian Church, 13720 S.W. Highway 126 in Powell Butte.

Mrs. Eakin was born Dec. 9, 1937, to Emil and Irene Peterson Johnson in Junction City. She graduated from Junction City High School in 1956, and from Oregon State University in 1960. She married Merle Eakin and later divorced. She taught at Crook County High School, and in 1975 she began teaching in Cove and La Grande and for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Japan and Korea.

She was a 4-H club leader and was president of the Leaders Association in Union County, coached volleyball and participated in every Hot Shot Memorial Run in Prineville. She enjoyed skiing, running, walking, working out, playing golf, attending the Olympics, country dancing, scuba diving, gambling, traveling and mountain climbing.

She retired in 1999 and became a ski instructor at Mount Bachelor and participated in Volunteers in Medicine and the Adopt a Road program. She loved animals, especially her dog, Gypsy, and expected those around her to be the best they could be.

Survivors include her daughters and their husbands, Renae and Terry Weber of Vale, Heidi and Lea of Prineville and Tonya and Mark Koopman of Bend; four grandchildren; a brother, Rod Johnson, and a sister, Doris Allison.

Memorials may be made to an athletic fund in her name at Bank of the Cascades, 103 N.W. Third St., Prineville 97754.