Darlene Carolyn (Miles) Waggoner

Darlene Carolyn (Miles) Waggoner, age 73, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2024.  She was born in Kalamazoo, MI on December 13, 1950, to Alfred Whitney and Eva Lena (Dore) Miles.  She was the 3rd child of 5 daughters.  A devoted caretaker, Darlene spent her life in the service of others as a labor and delivery nurse in Bakersfield and Tehachapi, CA, an emergency room nurse in Grapevine, TX, and an ICU nurse in Decatur, TX.  Darlene married her high school sweetheart, Edward Clark Waggoner, in Bakersfield, CA on June 16, 1973.  After living several years in Arizona, Florida, North Dakota, and California, they eventually settled in Decatur, TX in 1995.  She was an avid reader, loved needlework and sewing, and served as a Girl Scout Troup Leader.  Darlene was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, and mother.  She is survived by her husband of 51 years, two daughters (Jessica Baker of Decatur, TX and Jennifer da Rosa and husband, Francisco J. da Rosa, of Chester, MD), 7 grandchildren (Francisco C. da Rosa, Joseph Baker, Gabriela da Rosa, Rose Baker, Edward da Rosa, Raechel Smith, and Hannah Gravette), 3 sisters (Janice Rust and husband, Ray Rust, of San Diego, CA, Bonnie Ussery of Augusta, GA, and Nancy Looney and husband, Phillip Looney, of Bakersfield, CA), and a plethora of nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her sister, Sherrie Severson of Victorville, CA, her son-in-law, Kenneth Baker of Decatur, TX, and her brother-in-law, John Ussery of Augusta, GA.  Visitation will begin on 6-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 20th, 2024 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.  A Memorial Service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 21st, 2024 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

The pallbearers are Allen Waggoner, Francisco J. da Rosa, Joseph Baker, Gabriela da Rosa, Rose Baker, and Edward da Rosa.

We welcome as honorary pallbearers, all the patients Darlene cared for during her 40 years as a nurse.

In remembrance of Darlene’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org).