Darlene Stroud Collins, 74, of Milano passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
A Memorial Mass was held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caldwell.
Darlene was born on July 12, 1946, to Rufus Stroud and Mae Lona Taunton Johnson in Alexander City, Ala.
She was raised in Opelika, Ala. At a young age, she worked as a Candy Striper in a local hospital which is probably how she became interested in nursing.
Darlene’s husband at the time was in the Air Force, and she was a homemaker, raising two beautiful children. She attended a community college and received an associate’s degree in nursing.
As her marriage was coming to an end in 1980, Darlene joined the U.S. Army Reserve in San Antonio, where she worked as a cardiology nurse and she became a research RN at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital. She continued her studies and received her BSN from Incarnate Word in 1984.
While on a plane in the reserves, Murl first took notice of Darlene’s beautiful brown eyes. They were formally introduced in December of 1990 in Honduras. This was the beginning of a wonderful adventure that led them to marry on December 23, 1995.
Darlene retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a Colonel in 2006 and from her job at Burleson St. Joseph Hospital in Caldwell in 2011. After retiring, Darlene and Murl enjoyed many cruises and road trips together. Because of her declining health, they stopped traveling in 2019, and Murl settled in to care for his beloved wife.
Darlene is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John Stroud and her son, James Collins III.
She is survived by her husband, Col. (Dr.) Murl Bailey; sons, Creighton Bailey and his friend, Santiago Adalco, and Mitchell Collins-Bailey and his wife, Lauren; daughters, Wanda Tallant and her husband, Shane, and Shannon Payne and her husband, Dennis; grandchildren, Jacob La Grave and wife, Courtney, Joshua La Grave and wife, Taryn, Mairin La Grave, Vivian La Grave, Caitlyn Tallant, Conner Tallant, Carlton Jeffcoat and wife, Robin, Benjamin Jeffcoat and Alexander Jeffcoat; and five great-grandchildren.
Darlene will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, for her compassionate care, and her sweet spirit. She now rests in the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following charities: St. Mary’s Catholic Church Building Fund – 500 W. OSR, Caldwell, Texas 77836.
KC Council - 6366 Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 418 Caldwell, Texas 77836.