Darlene E. Hayes

CLARKSTON -- Darlene E. Hayes, a resident of Clarkston, passed away Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at her son's home, surrounded by her children after a short and unexpected battle with emphysema. She was 69.

Darlene was born Oct. 2, 1937, in Winchester. She was one of seven children of Vilas S. Goucher and Florence B. Bolen Goucher. She attended Asotin High School and was a grand majorette.

Darlene was introduced to Clarence McKeehan at the skating rink in Lewiston and they were married Jan. 26, 1955. They had three children and later divorced.

Darlene married Vincent Duman in 1962 and together they had two children, then later were divorced.

On Sept. 23, 1972, she married Gerald Hayes and had one child.

Darlene was a homemaker while her children were younger. Later, she worked at Tri-State Convalescent Center as a housekeeper, then quit her job to care for her mother until her mother's death.

She enjoyed working in her yard, doing crafts, making jewelry, sewing, working with wood and spending time with her grandchildren. She loved animals. She was a larger-than-life lady in a very small package. We will miss her dearly. Her love, laughter, energy, orneriness and mischievousness will live in our hearts and minds forever.

Darlene is survived by her three brothers, James Goucher of La Grande, Ore., Kenneth Goucher of Harrison, Idaho, and Charles Goucher of Clarkston. She is also survived by her six children, Edward Eugene McKeehan of Clarkston, Teresa Lynn Banks of Casper, Wyo., Tammy Anita Dibble of Clarkston, Randall Kim Duman of Canon City, Colo., Vincent Eugene Duman of Clarkston, and Gerald Shane Hayes of Clarkston; her grandchildren, Lyndsey, Courtney, Riley, Danny, Brandi, Jeremy, Tanya, Tera, Nathan, Aftan, Zee, Jennifer, Jacob, Alex, Nicholas and Kaitlyn; and great-grandchildren, Hailey, Sheldon, Alexia, Lauren, Devann and Keyan.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Hayes; her parents, Vilas and Florence Goucher; a sister, Vera Goucher; two brothers, William and Lowel Goucher.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at Merchant Funeral Home in Clarkston, with Chaplain Pat Wolf of St. Joseph Pastoral Care officiating. Burial will follow at Vineland Cemetery in Clarkston.