Darlene Jane Scott's Obituary
Darlene Jane Scott of Grand Island, FL, passed away on December 24, 2021. She was 77.
Born on November 19, 1944 to parents Darl and Jennie (Moore) Murphy, Darlene grew up in the small town of Flushing, Ohio.
She suffered through her piano lessons. She milked cows. She called the family farm home. Years passed. Darlene became president of her senior class at Union Local High School - Class of ‘62. After graduating, Darlene attended nursing school until she left to devote herself to family life as a wife and mother. She married fellow Union Local classmate Steven ‘Randy’ McNichols. The couple ‘set up housekeeping’ (as they used to say) in the Washington, D.C. area. Eventually they welcomed baby girl Jami Sue. In another couple of years, daughter Shari Lynn was born.
As the girls grew, Darlene decided to go back to school, and in 1979 she earned her associate degree in computer science. Her degree would go on to open doors to jobs with TVA and the City of Oak Ridge. As Darlene embarked on a new and exciting career, her marriage ended amicably.
In 1984, Darlene Jane Murphy McNichols married Thomas Wayne Scott. One of Tom’s hobbies was writing and playing music…he wrote a song called ‘When Thomas Wayne Met Darlene Jane’ for her. At the time of Darlene’s passing, the couple was eight days away from celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary. They exemplified all a marriage could be. The blended marriage that they created gave them five children in total, but only Darlene’s girls still lived at home at the time of their marriage.
Not long after saying ‘I do’, the couple became true empty-nesters. They chose to travel in their free time. Over the years they visited many attractions in the U.S. and abroad. One was special, though.
Darlene and her adult family had many special, beautiful trips to her favorite destination, Anna Maria Island. Often it would just be Darlene and her girls.Those memories will be cherished by Jami and Shari and granddaughter Olivia forever.
As often happens, mother and daughter were the best of friends. Shari could always count on her mother, day or night. Barely a day would go by that she or Shari wouldn’t at least call the other. Darlene loved both her daughters unconditionally and was Shari‘s anchor, strength, and support, always.
Granddaughter, Olivia Faulkner, has many fond memories of ‘Granny’. She loved the fact that Granny would sit and play when Olivia was a little girl. No matter what Granny was doing, she was always ready to play My Little Ponies with Olivia.
Darlene was fortunate to count her siblings as her friends. Her bossy big brother, David, became simply Dave. Dave and wife Lila were often welcome visitors to Darlene and Tom’s homes through the years. Darlene always looked forward to Dave’s weekly calls. Self proclaimed ‘bratty little sister’, Susan, became Sue and, along with Shari, one of Darlene’s best friends. Baby brother, Robert, became Bob and yet another of Darlene’s friends. She and Bob could always make each other laugh. Always.
Tom’s sister, Blenda Littlejohn, and her husband, Doug, frequently visited with Darlene and Tom. The two couples always enjoyed spending time together.
Eventually Darlene retired from work at The Villages. However, she was one of those people who couldn’t seem to ‘settle down’ and enjoy retirement. She liked being around people, so she volunteered to drive a shuttle for one of the local courthouses. She enjoyed driving the shuttle and meeting new people until she really and truly retired.
During the course of her life, Darlene battled personal and medical issues as so many of us do. In her dealing with these issues, her strength as a person shone through. She nearly always wore a smile, had a can-do attitude, and never seemed to stop. Her daughters teasingly called her the Energizer Bunny. Once her medical issues slowed her to the point of actual retirement, she still did not stop.
More than anything, Darlene loved being in the sunshine. Gardening enabled her to soak up plenty of sun. She had a green thumb and enjoyed what she called ‘puttering around in the yard’.
As anyone who knew Darlene can attest, she was a voracious reader. A lifelong library card holder, Darlene was never without a book. She even embraced the tablet reader when it came along. It didn’t matter though; book or tablet, Darlene was always reading.
Through the years, Darlene and Tom had various cats and dogs. Last in that line is little Bear. She was absolutely ferocious in her devotion to Darlene. In return, Darlene gave Bear a happy and spoiled life of leisure. While Bear remains at home with Tom - Papa Bear, she misses Darlene - Mama Bear.
Darlene was preceded in death by father, Darl Albert Murphy, and mother, Jennie Frances (Moore) Murphy. Also predeceasing her was her first husband and the girls’ father, Steven ‘Randy’ McNichols.
Darlene is survived by her loving husband, Tom Scott; her five children from their blended marriage, Jami Faulkner, Shari McNichols, Jerry Scott, Mike Scott, and Brian Scott; granddaughter Olivia Faulkner; sweet little dog Bear, older brother Dave (Lila) Murphy, younger sister Sue (Walt) Shade, younger brother Bob (Gayle) Murphy; her husband’s sister Blenda (Doug) Littlejohn; her many nieces and nephews: Kimberly (Steve) Ewers, Lori (Bill) McDaniel, Jason Tipton, Michael Murphy, Jennifer Arnold, Melissa (Jim) Dombeck, Brian (Audrey) Murphy, Lesa (Jeremy) Schmidt, Amanda (Keith) Tracy, & Emily (Kurt) Schlechty; and many more great nieces and nephews.
She will be loved and missed forever and always.
At Darlene’s request, there will be no service.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Arthritis Foundation may be made in Darlene’s name. https://www.arthritis.org (Scrolling all the way down to the bottom of the form, there is an address for snail mail donations.)
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared on the tribute wall.
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