DeRae was born in “The Little Green Valley” of Monroe, Utah February 1, 1930. She passed away on December 5, 2017. She was the product of the Sevier County family who helped educate her and provide her with a childhood that took on the best of the times and the scarcity of the era. DeRae would speak often of her love for her father, mother, two sisters who shared her passions, and the protection of a big brother who watched over her and his other sisters. It was an idyllic childhood, that was a comfort to her throughout her life.
Upon graduation from High School, DeRae spent one year in Cedar City, Utah attending the Agriculture College. This is where DeRae met and fell in love with her future husband, Billie Wayne Darling. The two were married in March of 1950 and settled in Billie’s hometown of Lehi, Utah.
DeRae adopted her new hometown and spent the next 63 years living in Lehi and raising her family. Bill and DeRae took one sabbatical abroad for two years to live in Seoul, Korea, and advance Billie’s career with the US Army. One of the many loving sacrifice DeRae made for her husband.
DeRae is remembered by many around “Old Lehi” as the happy, smiling and service minded clerk at Lehi Drug Co. on Main Street. She also spent several years working for the elementary school preparing and serving lunches for the children of her neighbors and friends. DeRae could make every primary lesson better and each smile she gave to others felt as if she only had smiles for them. Her energy and passion for life and her family will be her legacy for generations. DeRae had a beautiful, simple, and honest love for her Savior and the gospel of Jesus Christ that she learned as a young woman from her pioneer family.
DeRae is preceded in death by her parents, Arnold Dunn and Deona Nielsen Dunn. Her older brother Farrell [Clara] and her daughter in-law Kalene Darling. Survived by her sisters Jetta [Don]Lamprecht and Carol [Gordon] Berthelson. DeRae was blessed with four children, Gil [Debbie] Darling, Val [Kalene] Darling, Dale [Renae]Darling and DeEtte [Flynn] Chivers, 14 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
A viewing was held at the Wing Mortuary on Main Street in Lehi, Utah on Friday December 8. The family conducted a graveside service at Lehi Cemetery. Online guest book at Wingmortuary.com
