Lorene Pearl (Sandifer) Wood Darden

Lorene Pearl (Sandifer) Wood Darden passed away on Saturday morning, March 25, 2017. She was 89 years old. She was born near Vera, Oklahoma March 5, 1928 to John and Fannie Sandifer, whose home was close to Talalah, Oklahoma.

She was the youngest of six children in the Sandifer family, which included three boys: Jim, Wayne, Kenny; and three girls: Lois, Mabel and Lorene.

During the great depression, Lorene and her family lived and farmed a section of land 15 miles North of Vera, Oklahoma. Her family raised everything needed on the farm: corn, wheat , alfalfa, peas, beans, watermelon , 75-100 head of cattle, pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, you name it they raised it. Being the youngest of the six children, she got out of most of the hard work. During the depression there was little money, so her father traded cattle, pigs, chickens and eggs for things the family needed.

Lorene recalled stories from her childhood about her small dog Bimbo. Bimbo would chase the chickens, which her father didn’t like. She remembered when her dad caught Bimbo chasing chickens, he picked him up by the scruff of the neck and paddled him good. Bimbo never chased chickens again.

Lorene attended school in Vera, OK. Her senior class consisted of only 4 people. Lorene was salutatorian of her graduating class in 1944.

Later, Lorene’s family moved to Washington State, mainly around the Yakima Valley and Toppenish. She resided in Toppenish, and for the first year or so worked in the fields picking vegetables, then in the canneries processing the vegetables. She worked at Del Monte in Toppenish. Not wanting to do this for the rest of her life, she got a job at a small soda shop in Yakima, The Malt Shop.

It was at the Malt Shop that she met George Wood, and they married in 1948. They had a son, George Tomas Wood, in 1950. She and George later opened up Topper Café on south 1st street in Yakima. This was their dream until a fire engulfed and destroyed the restaurant while they were away catering the Yakima Policeman's Ball.

With a dream crushed, George accepted a job at a restaurant called King Sur in Depot Bay, Oregon. They also purchased a small 10 unit motel called the Totem Pole Motel a mile north of Depot Bay. George and Lorene also managed a motel in Depot Bay, Oregon.

The family could not stand the fierce winter storms on the Oregon Coast so they came back to the Yakima Valley.

They purchased a small restaurant outside Naches, Washington called the Ranch Inn. They operated it for several years until health issues with George forced closure of the restaurant. Lorene later found work as an apple packer at a local apple warehouse called Marley's in Tieton, Washington. They continued to live in Naches until George’s death in April 26, 1986.

Lorene continued to live in Naches and eventually met and married Delbert Darden of Cowiche, Washington. Lorene and Delbert traveled together during the short time they had together. Delbert passed away in Feb 2, 1989.

Lorene moved back to Naches, she purchased a new home across from the Applewood Park and lived there many years until her health required that she move closer to people who could look after her. During her time in Naches, she was a very active member of the church of the Nazarene.

In November of 2009 Lorene moved to Richland Gardens, to be closer to her son who lives in Richland.

Viewing and visitation will be at Keith & Keith Funeral Home on Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be at Keith & Keith Funeral Home on Monday, April 3, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. and will conclude at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

To share a memory of Lorene, please visit www.keith&keith.com