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Leona “Darlene” Skelton Conley, age 85, passed away on February 23, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born in Enid, Oklahoma, and moved to Texas with her family when she was a child. She graduated from San Antonio’s Harlandale High School and worked retail jobs before she eloped with Benjamin Conley. During the 1970’s Darlene moved to her house in the Dellview neighborhood next door to her parents, Ella and Jasper Skelton, and raised her two daughters, Debbie and Kim, as a single parent. At the time, she worked for HEB and continued to work there for 38 years. Darlene loved her neighborhood and went out to meet and greet neighbors whenever she saw them. She made friends easily with her warm smile and lively personality. She liked to host barbecues and parties for friends and family. When she would walk the sidewalk for exercise, she often stopped to visit the neighbors and ask about their families. She had a gift to remember various neighbors who had moved out or passed away. She also had many friends at HOPE church in Lavernia, Texas, where she attended services until 2019. After Darlene retired from HEB, she worked part-time for West Marketing and later became a consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. She sold products and attended many May Kay Conventions across Texas. She also spent time with her granddaughter, Lauren, and volunteered at her school. She went on road trips with her friend Thelma to places like Graceland and New York. She enjoyed trips to Port Aransas, camping with family, and driving out to Hill Country Horse Rescue where her daughter Kim volunteered. Darlene was deeply patriotic and was very proud when a flagpole was installed in her front yard. She flew the American flag proudly, kept plaques with the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights on the living room wall. She liked to eat at local restaurants like Luby’s and Sea Island, spend time sitting in the front yard and watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play there. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a loyal friend, a woman of faith, and a neighbor who cared about others. She will be missed by the many, many people who loved her. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Dawn Skelton Davis, sister-in-law Leona Zimmerman, and great-grandson Corey Calhoun. She is survived by her siblings, Dwaine Skelton, Betty Tondre, and Dan Skelton; her daughter Debbie and son-in-law Bill Birkner, sons Charles (Amy), Jonathen, Stephen (Paige) and great-granddaughter, Ivy Birkner. She is alsoaq survived by her daughter Kim Conley, granddaughter Lauren, (Eddie) and great-grandchildren Alyncie Conley, Olivia Fajardo, and Dylan Fajardo.

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Leona Darlene Conley

September 27, 1938 - February 23, 2024