By Sandy Whitehouse
Corona de Tucson is sadly missing one of her favorite citizens. When Darlene LeClair left us on March 27th, 2019, she took with her some of the zest for living she imbued in her friends and so generously shared with us over the 30 years she resided in our midst. The lady was a consummate diplomat, always able to lend a calming presence to community gatherings when differences of opinion arose. Early on we learned to appreciate her wisdom and her humor while she fostered unity and friendship in our little hamlet made up of so many diverse personalities and differing opinions.
Darlene was a sublimely gifted artist. The art world in the Tucson Valley is minus a part of its radiance with her passing. Her beautiful paintings grace the homes of those of us fortunate enough to have these glorious remembrances of her talent and her appreciation of the natural beauty that abounds in our desert home. There is nothing as lovely as an Arizona sky painted in we have come to think of as “Darlene Blue.”
She leaves behind a devoted and beloved family. She is survived by her strong, capable sons Steve and Bruce, so like their father Bill, who predeceased her, and her lovey daughter Carla who resembles her remarkable mother in untold ways. Her grandchildren, two upstanding young men and four enchanting young women and her three great-granddaughters will miss her dearly but will find comfort and joy in their years with her that impacted their lives so profoundly.
Darlene gathered the womenfolk of Corona together for fun and good works. She and her dear Mother, Irene Reese, founded Newtowners, a vital force in our little village, and we will feel her guiding hand in the group for years into the future.
The people of Corona de Tucson loved and respected Darlene and appreciate the treasured memories we have of our time with her.
