Darleen Lakey Phillips

Darleen Lakey Phillips 8/5/1937- 11/23/2021 Darleen was born in Seminole, Texas, to William David Lakey and Linnie Erin Hairell Lakey, on August 5, 1937. She was the youngest of four children born to the couple. Her oldest brother, William David Jr, her sister, Nell and her other brother, Gordon Carl, along with both her parents and her youngest son David, all preceded her in passing. She leaves behind her daughter Darla and eldest son Dan, a granddaughter Alison, grandsons Josh, Davey and Billy, and a host of great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews as well as cousins galore. Nobody in her family had more than a handful of kids, but most had at least one. Darleen spent the early years with her parents in Seminole, Texas where she met and married her childhood sweetheart, Danny Roger Phillips, at the young age of 15. She gave birth to a daughter, Darla Faith, less than a year later, and over the next four years two sons, Danny Roger Jr and David Alton Phillips, were born at 2-year intervals. By the time she turned 22, she was divorced and never remarried or had any other children throughout her 84 years. During her married life, she moved around oil country in West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado since the oil business was Danny’s profession. Her parents were never far away. Darleen started her working life as a cocktail waitress and progressed through a handful of long lasting office positions before retiring late in life. She was a secretary, Girl Friday, office manager and right-hand woman to her employer in every position she took. She could be a bit of a prankster and learned from her mother how to give a stinging backhanded compliment. She had a good sense of humor and loved to tell jokes, especially the occasional slightly off color ones, some picked up from her mother, but many from her time working around colorful characters at her various jobs. She spent several years working at Cummins Diesel, then several more at Paradise Funeral Home. Then she met and went to work for a retired airline pilot, Hardy Rawls. She would spend the rest of her working life at his side, going from a tire store to an auto auction and beyond. Darleen was a generous and kindhearted soul, saving stray animals and always giving to those less fortunate. If you said you liked something she had, she would offer it to you. She liked to buy things in multiples. I guess she figured that if she liked something, someone else might like to have one as a gift. She loved all the holidays and had decorations for each of them to show it. Naturally gregarious, she would strike up a conversation with anyone who would engage. She had many friends and even some we never knew about until she was gone. She also liked her privacy and living alone with her two dogs, Loosie and Abby. She had two cats named Ralf and George, but she was partial to her dogs. She had several other dogs and cats over her lifetime, and had them cremated and kept their ashes when they died. She was quick to offer a helping hand, a word of consolation or financial aid if you were in need. She might ask for advice, but she only took it if it was what she wanted to hear. Yes, she was a headstrong woman and could be a real spitfire if properly aroused. She had a big smile she could turn off in a flash if you displeased her. But her laugh was genuine and infectious and could fill the room. She had an adventurous spirit and was excited to hop on the back of her friend's Harley for a ride when invited, even in her later years. She could be a spunky wild thing when she felt like it. Her Leo personality really shined. She loved her family, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent as much time with them as was possible. She would drive long distances to see them when they couldn't come to her. She missed them when they left, but was happy they weren’t there messing up her house after the missing had passed. Shopping was another of her favorite pastimes. She would take anyone who would go with her and shop for hours at a time, almost always buying something for her shopping partners. Darleen loved to drive and had a habit of talking on the phone whenever she did. She hardly ever used the phone except on the road. It was a bad habit, but I sure miss getting those calls these days. Darleen always enjoyed food and collected tons of recipes. She was good at both cooking food and eating it, especially fried things and anything sweet, you know, comfort foods. Bad for her, she knew, but then she always knew everything, so you had better not ever try to tell her anything. She also went through various phases of collecting things: frogs, clocks, and music boxes to name a few. They were displayed throughout the house and yard. She will be missed by her many friends and acquaintances, and of course, all her family. But rest assured, she still watches us all from above and sometimes talks to those of us who are listening as I talk to her almost every day. And I am certain she will be back in her next life with just as much piss and vinegar as she possessed in this one. Rest in peace until next time Mom, we couldn’t help but love you.