Irene Darcy Baker Duehren

Irene Darcy (Baker) Duehren OCEANSIDE -- Irene Darcy (Baker) Duehren, 89, entered in the presence of her Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at Tri-City Hospital. She was born in Miles City, Montana on June 29, 1922 to George Kenyon and Edna Elizabeth (Newell) Baker. Her parents moved to Bison, South Dakota where they were proprietors of the Bison Hotel. As a child, Irene enjoyed the life of the hotel and helped wherever she was needed. She graduated from Bison High School May 16, 1941. After high school, she took commercial training at Aberdeen, and was employed in the AAA Office. In March of 1944, she signed up to enter the Waves. She was the first local Bison girl to enter the service. After graduating Naval Training School for Yeomen at A&M University Campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma, she reported to duty at the Naval Training Center in Farragut, Idaho. After being promoted to Yeoman 3rd Class she was assigned to the Gunners Mate School. Her first encounter with a sorting computer, the size of a huge room that made so much noise you could hardly hear the telephone. She met her husband, Joseph Reed Duehren, a Marine, while both were stationed in Farragut, Idaho. They were married March 20, 1946. Following their discharge, they made their home in Oceanside, California, Joe's hometown. Irene used her G.I. Bill to attend Oceanside/Carlsbad College. She received her Associates in Arts Degree in June 1950. She began working for Civil Service at Camp Pendleton as a Clerk Typist. Joe was called back into the Marines to go to Korea. In 1954, she began working for the City of Oceanside in the City Clerks Office. From 1972-1980, Irene served as City Clerk. She also served on the Oceanside Library Board of Trustees and the Mira Costa College Advisory Board. In 1985, the Oceanside City Council appointed Irene to City Treasurer to replace former treasurer Marvin Bledsoe, who died in office. She served out his term and was elected City Treasurer in 1988 and served until 1992. She retired from the City of Oceanside in November of 1992. Extended family and friends were always welcome in their home, and Irene treasured visits back to her own home town in South Dakota. While Joe and Irene were not blessed with children of their own, Irene found joy in the children of her sister, Marie, and their children. She was grateful for their support upon the sudden accidental death of her husband in 1980. Later Irene found long lasting friendships with Alvin Roudebush, and his daughter, Sharon, and her husband and their children.

Irene had many friends and loved her city of Oceanside. She was an active member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and loved all of her sorority sisters. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church for many years and loved her church family of friends. She loved to travel and eat out with friends. She always had a kitty cat in her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her special friend, Al Roudebush; her parents, her six siblings, Bea, Oscar, Gertrude, George, Marie, and Reva who died in infancy; a nephew, Maynard Gerald (Tads) Baker; and grandnephew, Ronald Scott Rowbotham. Grateful for her presence in their lives are her nephew, George Rowbotham and his wife, Avis, and their daughter, Renee (Rich); her niece, Rev. Ellen Davis and her husband Rev. Lynn Davis; special daughter, Sharon; nephews, Roland and Rick Baker, Jack Hogarth, and their families; and grandnieces and nephews; Rev. Doug (Linda) Davis, Leigh (Deborah) Davis, Mark (Vicki) Davis, Robin Stone, Jamie and Anna Waltz, Stacy Davis, Krista Kelly, Michael Davis, Sgt. Stephen Davis serving in the US Army, Christoffer, Kaeli and Cory Stone; as well as a host of friends and colleagues. A memorial service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1900 South Nevada Street, Oceanside, Calif. 92054, at 2 pm, Sunday, January 15, 2012. Committal service will be held Monday, January 16, 2012 at 12:30 pm, at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, Calif. 92054.