Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Darlene Yvonne Bleakney passed away peacefully at her home in Redmond, Ore., on Jan. 26, 2021. She was born Darlene Yvonne Highsmith on June 23, 1932. She was the last of six children born to Richard Morgan and Laura Jones Highsmith. She was preceded in death by her siblings Reginald, Phyllis, Richard, Shirley, and Marijane.
Darlene graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1950. She went on to graduate with honors in a joint degree program from Oregon State College and Oregon College of Education. She received a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1954. She later went on to take graduate courses at Central Washington University.
Darlene married Jesse “Pat” Bleakney in 1954 and began teaching second grade at Washington School in Sunnyside, Wash. She also began 35 years teaching Sunday school. Darlene and Pat adopted two children, Marney and Joel.
Darlene pursued a variety of interest and began tole painting for bazaars, consignments shops, and the Poor Man’s Show in Yakima. She was also a member of AAUW, Sunnyside Chapter of Children’s Home Society, PEO, and Wanita Grange.
Pat and Darlene moved to Dallesport, Wash., in 1975, where they began operations on the Dalles Mountain Ranch. Darlene continued painting and opened Hudson House Antiques in The Dalles with several friends. She also substituted in Lyle schools, became a library aide, was a leader of Dallesport 4-H club, and taught Sunday school and Junior Church at Gateway Presbyterian Church in The Dalles.
Darlene wrote two books, "Ideas for Library Teachers" and "Dalles Mountain Ranch." She also wrote several children’s books about a ranch pet, Gordon the Goose.
Pat and Darlene sold the ranch in 1993 and moved to Vancouver, Wash. After 16 years, they retired to The Greens in Redmond, where Pat passed away on their 62nd wedding anniversary.
Darlene is survived by children, Marney and Casey Coates and Joel Bleakney; grandchildren, Zachary Hull and Lindsey Hull; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She will be missed! Per her wishes there will not be a service. Baird Funeral Home, Bend, is in care of the arrangements.
To plant a tree in memory of Darlene Bleakney as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) entries
Sign the guestbook.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.