Obituary: Soots-Link, Darlene Francis (Libey) (Yates)
Age 73
She was 73.
Darlene was a bright-eyed, beautiful child born November 18, 1940 in Potlatch to Marjorie Reynolds and Lawrence Libey.
Darlene joined a large extended family, soon followed by brothers, Merrill, Warren and Terry.
The family made their home in the Potlatch and Moscow area where the days were filled with music, art and merriment.
In the summer of 1957, Darlene fell in love with Wilbur Yates of Pullman.
They were married in November of that year.
Darlene and Wilbur had four children, Tammy, Bill, Trudy and Tracy whom they raised in Moscow.
Darlene made friends easily and is remembered as “the life of the party”.
She loved to laugh and tell jokes; she enjoyed acting, music, dancing, art and working in her garden.
Throughout her life, Darlene worked as an office manager/bookkeeper and was active in several organizations and churches.
Her children remember their mother’s creativity in decorating the home and preparing special meals even when resources were limited.
Darlene and Wilbur divorced in 1977 at which point she moved to the Tri-Cities.
While living in Kennewick she met and married Ken Soots.
They later moved their home to the Seattle area and lived there until Ken passed away in 1997.
In 1999, Darlene returned to the Spokane area.
She and mother, Marjorie then began joining family and friends wintering in Yuma, AZ.
Darlene loved the climate and the community of friends she established, and it was there that she met Bill Link.
It’s uncertain whether she fell in love with Bill or his dog, Spike, first, but either way, it was love at first sight!
They were married August 2011.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Libey, Richard Cheatham and Marjorie (Reynolds) Cheatham, brother, Warren Libey and granddaughter, Candace Filler.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Link, children, Tammy (Dennis) McGreevy, Bill Yates, Trudy (JohnTom) Konzal and Tracy Alexander, step-daughters, Billy Jo (Clyde) Ellis and Linda (Raymonde) Boatman, eight grandsons, seven granddaughters, four great-grandchildren, brothers, Merrill (Diane) Libey and Terry (Jane) Cheatham as well as numerous extended family members, friends and the many lives she touched.
A graveside burial will be held Saturday, November 1, 2014, 1 PM, Moscow Cemetery, 1650 Troy Rd., Moscow and a memorial service at Faith Bible Church, W. 600 Cora, Spokane, Sunday, November 2, 2014 at 2 PM.
The family is grateful for the kindness and care extended through Darlene’s doctors and the staff at Valley Medical Hospital.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Rockwood Foundation in care of Darlene Soots-Link.
Please send your donations to: Rockwood Foundation, 140 S. Arthur, Suite 300, Spokane, WA 99202.