Darlene Gay Carrigan, 82, died on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at the Dunlap Specialty Care Center. She was born on June 18, 1938, to Forrest and Eva (Mayer) Densmore in Buck Grove, Iowa. She grew up in Dunlap and graduated from the Dunlap High School in 1958. Darlene married Charles Carrigan on July 2, 1958, in Arizona. The couple lived in Arizona for a few years and then moved back to Dunlap, where she spent many years raising their girls, Donna, Janet and Laura. Darlene went to work as the Activity Director at the care center in Dunlap retired from there.
Darlene loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She kept very busy with her gardening, ironing, ceramics and sewing and loved to go to garage sales, especially with friends. Darlene made the best baked rolls and cinnamon rolls and was known for her potato salad, which she always had enough of to share with others. She enjoyed traveling to Arizona and Alaska. She loved her family, her cat ‘Fred’ and most of all her grandchildren.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Orland Densmore, Eunabelle Brewster and Darrell Densmore. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Charles Carrigan of Dunlap; three daughters, Donna and her husband Trent Olmstead of Janesville, Janet and her husband David Crumley of Camden Point, Mo. and Laura and her husband Todd Hirchert of Omaha, Neb.; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two sisters, Marjorie Spencer of Arizona and Elaine Smith of Spirit Lake; and many other relatives and friends.
A private family memorial service was held on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, at Fouts Funeral Home in Dunlap. The service was led by Life Celebrant Beth Fouts. The recoded musical selections were “In The Garden” and “How Great Thou Art”. Interment will be at a later date at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Dunlap.
Fouts Funeral Home in Dunlap was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
