Darlene Medley
Age - 86
December 5, 2023
Darlene Fay (Brazzell) Medley, 86, of Ellettsville, Indiana, passed away on November 30, 2023. She was born to Herbert Doyle Brazzell and Etta Elizabeth (Quillen) Brazzell on July 16, 1937, in Bloomington, Indiana. Darlene graduated from Mitchell High School in 1955. She enjoyed school, and made many friends there. She kept in touch with friends she had made in elementary school until the day she passed. She always made good grades in school, was a natural leader, and was the key organizer for her senior prom. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Future Homemakers of America and the Sunshine Club. She met Donald Lee Medley in March of 1955, and they were married on March 10, 1956. They had five children, Donalda Lynn (Medley) Shrum, Dedra Lou Medley Gardner, Donya Layne Medley, D'Elizabeth Lee Medley, and Donald LaRode Medley. She was an excellent homemaker and cook, and loved taking care of her family. Darlene's love for God and her family were the driving forces in her life. When she was just a child, she would walk many miles to church by herself every Sunday. As an adult, she never missed an opportunity to go to church, as long as she was able. She was a Sunday School teacher at Old Dutch Community Church for most of her adult life, as well as being the song leader. She was also the secretary and treasurer of the Ladies' Aid for more than 45 years. Throughout the years, Darlene organized many Vacation Bible Schools, wrote and directed numerous Christmas and Easter programs, and was a guest singer, along with her daughters, at many churches and other events in the area. She was known by many names to her family, Mom, Mother, Mamacita, Memaw, Meem, Grandma, Granny, Mama Fred, and many others, each with its own special significance. Anyone who knew Darlene, knew she loved the color green and trees, all things Irish because of her Irish heritage, singing, chocolate, fried fish, and Indiana University's Bobby Knight basketball program. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Etta Brazzell, her husband, Donald Lee Medley, her brothers, Larry Brazzell and Dennis Brazzell, her nephews, Jeffrey Atchison and Matthew Brazzell, and great-niece, Grace Myer. She is survived by all five of her children, Donalda (Garry) Shrum, Dedra (Roger) Gardner, Donya Medley, D'Elizabeth Medley, and Donald Medley; grandchildren Marisa Shrum, Josh Antraz, D'Erika (Berry) Parker, Devon Gardner, Mercedes (Rick) Sims, Maverick Gardner, Dakota Medley, Lukas Todd, and Lexus Todd; great-grandchildren Audra Shrum, Allie Shrum, Lilly Shrum, David Antraz, Zyan Sylvester, Trevion Parker, Kiana Parker, Diondre Parker, Azula Parker, Fiara Parker, Elijah Gardner, Hunter Gardner, Addison Sims, Emberleigh Sims and Eastyn Sims; her sister, Brenda (Bill) Miller of Cartersville, Georgia, and brother Roger (Marian) Brazzell of Mitchell, Indiana, as well as many more family members too numerous to list. She will be sadly missed by family and friends, but the impact she made on so many will continue to future generations. Visitation will be on December 5, 2023, at Chandler Funeral Home in Ellettsville, Indiana, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. The funeral service will be December 6, 2023, at the Old Dutch Community Church, near Ellettsville, at 2:00 pm, with visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Old Dutch Church cemetery. Show more
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