Darleen June Damon

Darleen June Damon, vital and active until the last day of her life, passed away February 27, 2026 in Marysville, Washington at the age of 89. Born in Keizer, Oregon on June 30, 1936 to Ernest and May PicKell, Darleen spent her childhood in Salem, Oregon with her parents and older siblings, Alda and Don. In high school at Salem Academy she met Helen Melby. These two became fast friends, fellow cheerleaders, and eventually sisters in law, when Helen married Darleen’s brother, Don.

After high school, Darleen attended Seattle Pacific College. Singing in the college choir, she met Donley Damon, a joking, prankster tenor who would become her husband and the father of her four children. They were quite the musical couple. Donley directed the church choir at Rainier Avenue Free Methodist Church, Darleen played the organ and the piano, and their children eventually joined them in their musical exploits at this church, which would be the hub of their family life for many years. Darleen had so many fond memories of those days and the many wonderful friendships that were formed during that magical time period.

Darleen and Donley were both teachers in the Seattle Public Schools. She started out at Highpoint Elementary teaching 4th grade. During the years she stopped teaching to raise her family, she helped Donley earn that Master’s degree so he could become a principal. When he did, they moved to their big new house in the Renton Highlands.

In 1979, while her oldest children were in high school, Darleen’s brother, Don, very unexpectedly passed away far too young at age 44. Don was her big brother and hero. She spent the rest of her life grieving and missing him. In one of the last statements she made on this earth Darleen said words to the effect of, “People can believe anything they want and I’m fine with that. I choose to believe that in the end I will be reunited with my brother.” We all rejoice in that happy reunion.

In the Renton years, Darleen returned to teaching, impacting scores of Kindergarteners in a number of Seattle schools. She was an amazing teacher, with great talent in helping accelerate student’s reading skills. She passed on her teaching acumen. All of Darleen’s children eventually worked in Education. And as a lifelong teacher, she was able to help out in some of the classrooms her children taught in, especially those of her daughter, Lisa, who like her, also taught kindergarten.

After retirement, Darleen and Donley moved to Marysville and lived there for the remainder of their lives. They traveled the country a lot in those first retirement years, eventually visiting all 50 states. They entertained their ever-extending family, helping out with their grandchildren whenever possible. In 2012, after a couple tough years, Donley passed at 76.

Darleen loved the Oregon Coast. She had vacationed there as a child and continued that tradition with her own young family. Many of her family’s happiest memories were created there. She and her daughters visited the coast together often in later years. It was truly her happy place. Any future trip to the coast (and a cup of chowder at Mo’s) will be accompanied by her memory.

Darleen spent her last years deeply engaged with her family. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all lived close and she was able to visit with them often. In her last week, Darleen traveled to Oregon and visited much of her extended family there. It is especially poignant that she was able to say “goodbye” and “I love you” to the people that meant so much to her so close to her final goodbye.

Darleen was predeceased by her brother Don, sister Alda, and husband Donley. She is survived by her sister-in-law Helen PicKell, children Richard (Siobhan), Dianne, Lisa (Kenley) and Sheryl (Eric), grandchildren Bjorn (Elena), Krista (Chad), Quinn (Nataly), Dominic, Liliana, and Kaytlyn, and great grandchildren Carmen, Mateo, and Louisa.

Darleen was an extremely warm and empathetic person. She was everyone’s counselor and confessor. She was patient, loving, artistic and perceptive. Many of these traits are clearly visible in the personalities and actions of her many descendents. Darleen was the rock of the family. She (and her pie crust) will be dearly missed.