Kathryn Darling

Kathryn Darling always made the most of things. She was a wonderful woman, strong and selfless, caring and compassionate to the people around her. She lived a long and full life, a life filled with challenges and triumphs, family and fond memories. Kathryn was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, whose golden heart forever found lifes silver lining. Kathryns story began on a cool fall day in 1916, as the leaves left the trees in Hickman, Kentucky. Those were tumultuous times around the globe, as the terrible battles of World War I raged on, and anxious Americans re-elected Woodrow Wilson as President on a platform of peace. On November 4, 1916, Barney and May Etta (Chambers) Riddle celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Kathryn Iris. Kathryn was the second of four children in the family, joining her big brother Eugene and her little siblings William and Maxine. When Kathryn was just a little girl, the family packed up and moved to Muskegon, Michigan, where her dad took a job at Continental Motors. They settled into a home on the east side of town on Sheridan, and Kathryn would walk to her one-room schoolhouse each day. When she was just 13, Kathryns mother died, and being the oldest daughter, she quit school to take care of the household. That was Kathryn, though: she always did what she could, and always put the needs of others ahead of her own. Times were tough on the family, during those days of the Great Depression, but they always made do, and were grateful for what they had. Kathryn often told the tale of walking to a wedding one day through the woods, and finding a pair of shoes on a junk pile. The shoes were nicer than the ones she had on, so she picked them up, dusted them off, and put them on, leaving her own pair on the pile for someone less fortunate than she who happened by. When Kathryn was 16, she met a young man named Frank Kelling at a local dance. Frank was four years older than her, but they began dating and were married in 1935. Frank worked in the oil fields on the east side of town, and the newlyweds settled into a home on West Street. It wasnt long before the couple became a family, with the birth of their daughter Marlene later in 1935. The couple added their daughter Karen in 1941, and their son Gerald in 1945. Kathryn was a happy homemaker, though she also worked part-time to help make ends meet. She tended bar at the Grey Goose Bar, and worked at several retail stores, too. In 1951, Kathryns marriage to Frank ended, though she wouldnt remain alone for long. She met a wonderful man named Harry Darling, and the sparks flew between them. Harry was much older than she was, but they had much in common, and after a whirlwind romance, the two were married on Christmas Eve in 1951. The couple added to their family with their son Dale in 1953, and their daughter Linda in 1954. The blended family moved around Muskegon for a time, before moving out to Holton, where they bought a beautiful, 240-acre farm. Kathryn loved living on the farm, and happily helped growing the many vegetables, fruits and flowers there. It was truly a family affair, and everyone got involved. Every fall, Kathryn and the kids would can a mountain of food for the family, and bartered with other local farmers for food and supplies. Kathryns husband was a World War I veteran, and suffered some health problems as a result. He also had emphysema, which hampered his health further. Eventually, running the farm became too difficult, so they packed up and moved back to Muskegon, moving into a smaller home on School Street. The family settled back into life in Muskegon, and began attending Forest Home Reformed Church. As Harrys health declined further, Kathryn kept the family going, working many different jobs. She worked in retail stores, worked at a local nursing home, at the Muskegon Regional Center, and even cleaned houses on the side. She always did what needed to be done, and always stayed positive. In 1966, Kathryns beloved Harry sadly died, which was a difficult loss for her and the family. She worked even harder to make ends meet, and somehow the family made do. She always saw to that. Not that Kathryns life was all work and no play. She was a funny, fun-loving woman, who enjoyed her life. She loved going to Lake Michigan and stopping for some ice cream, and she enjoyed going to the horse races in Detroit, where she always came home a winner. She was also a very proud (and loud) fan of the Muskegon Lumberjacks hockey team, and went to all the games with her friend Liz. Shed ring her cowbell and yell at the opposing players and the refs! Kathryn also enjoyed going to the Seaway Festival and the Summer Celebration carnivals every year, and loved riding all the rides. Her family teasingly called her the Carney Queen. Kathryn also enjoyed volunteering in the Foster Grandparents program, helping teach children to read in five different schools. She was beloved by all the kids, and some of them even called her Grandma. When her own kids had grown and got out on their own, Kathryn moved into an apartment in Hickory Village, where she lived the rest of her days. She was a very strong and independent person, and didnt like to rely on others for help. When her eyes got too bad for her to continue driving, she took the bus, or rode with friends. Kathryn outlived most of her good friends, though eventually, her own health began to decline. She kept her sense of humor right to the end, though she sadly died on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2008, in her apartment at the age of 91. Kathryn was a wonderful woman, who lived a long and full life, a life full of challenges and triumphs, of family and fond memories. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Most of all, Kathryn was a woman with a golden heart, who always saw the silver lining, and taught us to see it, too. She will be greatly missed. Kathryn is survived by her 2 sons, Gerald (Dorleen) Kelling of Whitehall, MI & Dale (Betty) Darling of Oak Forest, IL; 3 daughters, Marlene (Robert) Stephenson of Muskegon, Karen (Frank) Archer of Nunica & Linda Darling of Spring Lake; 16 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; 1 sister, Maxine (Jack) Williams of Muskegon; 1 brother, William "Bo" (Jean) Riddle of CO; half-sister, Mary Lou Birth & half-brother, David Riddle. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Frank Kelling & Harry Darling; 1 great granddaughter, Brianna Darling & a brother, Eugene. Services are scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2008, 2:00 PM at the Clock Chapel with Rev. Ken Shady officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, 7-9 PM & Thursday, 1-2 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.