Darlene Adams died Saturday, December 29, 2012, at her home in Clayton, New Mexico.

Memorial Services were held at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 4, 2012 at the Clayton Gospel Church with Pastor Mike Phipps, officiating. Services were under the direction of Hass Funeral Home of Clayton.

I told Him I wasn't ready to leave, there was so much I hadn't gotten to do, but on December 29, 2012, He held out His hand and said, instead of one set of footprints it was time for two, as He took my hand and walked me home. Addie Darlene Adams was the first of three daughters born to Riley C. Dean and Gladys Marjorie (Mick) Dean in Gunnison, Colorado. She was raised by her great-gtrandmother Addie Mick. She attended school in Gunnison, and Sunray, Texas, Colinga Junior College in California and later Dunham Business College in El Paso, Texas. Darlene's dad was a horseman, training and riding race horses, and she inherited his love of animals. She owned and operated TLC horse stables for kids outside of El Paso and took in numerous needy children. Later, she trained race horses at all the major race tracks in New Mexico, making the top 10 list at Sunland Park. Before coming to Clayton, Darlene lived three years in Ohau, Hawaii and was a librarian at Wheeler Air Force Base. She came to Clayton in 1980 and soon joined the Twentieth Century Club (now the Clayton Federated Women's Club). She was a dedicated and hard-working club member and was first vice president 1996-1998. She went to work as part-time curator at the Herzstein Memorial Museum in 1995, where she learned all she could about the history of Clayton and Union County, and took great joy in guiding visitors through the museum. In 1997, she went to work as Director of the Clayton - Union County Chamber of Commerce and while it was originally a part-time job, she often worked 40 and 50 hours a week keeping the office open, answering inquiries and helping travelers with their needs. During her time with the Chamber of Commerce, Darlene conceived the idea of a fishing derby for children and took the idea to Chalres Jordan at Clayton Lake State Park. They soon enlisted the help of Alan Crisman and Deano Arellano, and the Clayton Lake Fishing Derby was born in the year 2000. Darlene became Director of the Clayton Senior Citizens Center in February of 2006 and worked there until she retired for health reasons in June 0f 2010. In the 60 year history of the Clayton Senior Citizens Center, she was the only person who received a Certificate of Appreciation for Service to the Community from the New Mexico Area Agency on Aging. She also was responsible for nominating Bess Isaacs for Experience Counts as an older working American, which culminated in Bess winning a wonderful trip to Washington, D.C. Darlene instituted several new programs as the Center, closely oversaw the preparation of meals and encouraged seniors to come to the center for meals and companionship. Darlene was preceded in death by her father, a sister, Charlene Wade and three infant sons, Kenneth Dean, Michael Leon and Kelly Shawn.

SURVIVORS:

2 DAUGHTERS: Debra Camacho and her husband Mike of Corona, California and Tina Wright of Knoxville, Tennessee.

2 GRANDDAUGHTERS: Kristen Camacho and Summer Tellez and her husband Frank all of Corona, California.

1 GRANDSON: Josh Wright and his wife Toba of Bandera, Texas.

2 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Jude Enriquez and Hannah Tellez both of Corona, California.

1 SISTER: Myrna Denton and her husband David of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Several nieces and nephews and many friends, including Becky Gonzales, Alberta May and Sue Richardson.

MEMORIALS: Memorials may be made to the Clayton Federated Women's Club Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 205, Clayton, New Mexico 88415 or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P. O. Box 50, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9929.