Darlene Sutherland

Gladys Darlene Sutherland, age 93, of Paola, Kansas died February 13, 2014 at North Point Skilled Nursing in Paola. Darlene was born September 10, 1920 in a farm house in the rural area of Miller, Kansas, the oldest of six children born to Wilbur and Anna (Long) Smulling. She graduated from Miller High School in a class of ten students. During high school she worked as a telephone operator and also at the local grocery store. On February 11, 1946, she was united in marriage to Rex Eugene Sutherland. They met at a grocery store in Williamsburg, Kansas where Darlene worked as a butcher and a clerk. They moved to Paola to help Rex"s father Clyde with the original Sutherland"s Grocery Store on the north side of the square. They became the parents of two children, daughter Jenann was born in 1952 and son Jim was born in 1955. They later moved their grocery store to the north end of town. Darlene was an active member of the United Methodist Church and United Methodist women"s groups at Paola. She was a member of Miami County Historical Society and enjoyed spending time and working there. She loved going to antique auctions, collecting and refinishing dishes and furniture. In the early 90"s Rex and Darlene discovered their love for the Gold Canyon, Arizona area where they wintered for over 25 years. They were one of the 15 founding couples of the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church in 1989 that grew to a congregation of over 2000 members. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rex, one sister Dorothy Sullivan and one brother WB "Bud" Smulling. She is survived by her daughter Jenann and son-in-law Terry Hall of Emporia; son Jim of Paola; one brother Keith Smulling of Osage City, Kansas; two sisters Doris Gerstner of Emporia and Donna Tucker of Bonner Springs; three grandchildren Weston, Rex, and Rick Vickers; 5 great grandchildren; many other relatives and friends. Memorials to the Miami County Historical Museum, Paola United Methodist Church or American Diabetes Association. To share your memories of Darlene or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.