Darlene Holliday

Emma Darlene, the oldest of five daughters, was born on July 5, 1928, in Hardin, MO, to Alvina and William Witte. The family moved to farm in Kansas, where she graduated from Berryton High and attended the University of Kansas. She married Herbert E Holliday, Jr in 1947 and they farmed south of Topeka. After an extremely cold winter, they traveled to the Southwest and purchased Hiland Lanes in Albuquerque in 1961. They sold the bowling alley in 1963 and Herb became a realtor.

Darlene never met a stranger. She was a 4-H leader and served as Presiding Judge at many elections over the years. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for 66 years; Past Matron of Albuquerque 67, now affiliated with Jessamine 45. She attended Los Altos Christian Church participating in Sew and Sews. After Herb's death in 1999, she traveled with her daughter to all seven continents, visiting 119 countries on the Traveler's Century Club list. She was a league bowler until age 86 and won a gold medal in bowling doubles at the 2019 National Senior Games at the age of 90. The last years of her life she enjoyed dining and dancing with her loving companion Jack Gibson. With family by her side, she succumbed to glioblastoma on March 7.

Darlene is survived by her daughter, Linda Perry and husband David; son, Steven and wife Peggy, all of Albuquerque; son, Robert and wife Joyce of Plano, TX; son-in-law Douglas Loyd of New York, NY; sister Shirley Weideman of Berryton, KS; 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert; daughter, Dr. Brenda Loyd; and sisters, Mildred Doud, Wanda Hupp-Rone and Sylvia Palenske.

Visitation will be held on Saturday March 19, 2022 at 9:30 am and funeral services will follow at 10:30 am, at Los Altos Christian Church (LACC), 11900 Haines Ave NE, Albuquerque. Burial to follow at Sandia Memory Gardens, 9500 San Pedro Dr NE. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LACC.

Pallbearers are John Perry, Robbie, Ryan, Michael and Isaac Holliday and Jerry Todd.

Special thanks to kind hospice caregivers Tracy Graff and Charlene Gardner.