Darla Jean Draney was born on February 11, 1937, to Johnny James Gastenaga and Delilia Bernice (Evans) Gastenaga in Montpelier, Idaho. Darla spent her childhood in Cokeville, Wyoming with her parents, her two younger sisters, Donna (Lindberg) and Eileen (LeSeur) and younger brother, Roger.
Darla enjoyed music, dancing, school plays, friends, biking, roller skating and building things. She attended school in Cokeville and graduated from Cokeville High School in 1955. She was involved in music and held several class offices. She served as a state historian for the Future Homemakers of America and participated in the school band. She attended the University of Wyoming in 1956 and met Alfred (Fred) Lee Draney while they were both students there. They married on May 4, 1957, in Randolf, Utah.
After college, they moved to Colorado Springs where Darla pursued her musical interests. She taught piano lessons for 50 years, sang in quartets, played in church services, and supported her husband in his career as a Certified Public Accountant and many church and civic responsibilities. Together, they raised their family of eight children.
She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served in various stake and ward callings. Darla always said her favorite calling was teaching Primary children. She cherished time with her family—both her children and grandchildren—and loved family gatherings and reunions as her family grew. She enjoyed reading, sewing, gardening, keeping in touch with friends & family, and doing puzzles.
Darla is survived by her eight children: Laurie (Ken) Tracy, Tracie (Jeff) Johnson, Wendie (Troy) Olsen, Terrie (General James) Hecker, Kellie (Darcy) Wride, Dan Draney, Freddie Draney, and Erin Draney. She has 29 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Donna (Carl) Lindberg and Eileen LeSeur and her brother-in-law, Donald (Pat) Draney. She is predeceased by her parents, her younger brother Roger, her husband Fred Draney, her son-in-law, Ken Tracy, and one granddaughter, Michelle Tracy.
Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, August 31, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 8710 Lexington Drive, Colorado Springs, CO. The family will greet friends from 8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
