Darlene Louise Taylor was born on July 20, 1944 in Harvey, Illinois.  She was the daughter of Frank Eugene Taylor and Dorothy Mabel Gerth.  Alongside her three brothers, Garry, Greg and Tot, she moved with her family to Tipton, Iowa.

Darlene married Woodrow ("Bud") Pettit, and together they had two children:  Daniel and Angela.  Though Darlene and Woodrow later separated, she courageously raised thier two children on her own, even as one child battled a serious kidney disease.

Eventually, she relocated her little family of three to Mesa, Arizona.  Later in life, Darlene met and married DJ Colvin, a retired Air Force veteran.  Together, they realized her lifelong dream by opening "Dar's Styling Den," a beauty salon in Mesa.   After DJ's passing in 1998, Darlene continued operating the salon for several years until she retired.

Darlene's son, Daniel, married Jacqueline Panek in 1991, and Darlene cherished her three grandchildren: Daniel Joseph Pettit, Kaitlynn Marie Pettit and Cassidy Rose Pettit.

On January 22, 2026 Darlene passed away due to complications from pneumonia.  She will be remembered for her strength, love and the legacy of her family and dreams fulfilled.