Darlene F. Jernigan

Darlene F. Jernigan, 64, of Watertown, South Dakota, formerly of Jamestown, ND died Saturday, May 29, 2004 at her home with her loving husband and best friend, Gary, at her side.

Darlene Faye Johnson was born June 27, 1939 in Jamestown the daughter of Walter and Alice (Domek) Johnson. She went to grade school in Kennison township while on the family farm in Adrian, ND. Her sister, Delores, was her 4th & 6th grade teacher. She cooked for thrashers and loved riding her bother, Sonny's, spirited horses. The family later moved to Jamestown where she attended Jamestown High School, graduating in 1957. She was a talented roller-skater in the 50's and performed on TV. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, played basketball and was president of DECA and won 1st place in the national essay contest in New Orleans in her senior year. She married Myron Rosene in 1957 in Jamestown. She worked at JC Penney's, the ASC Office & Soil Conservation. She married Leonard Graves on July 3, 1962 and they worked for her parents at the Jamestown Commodity Warehouse, which they later purchased & operated. She later worked at B & B Ceramics with her daughter, Traci, and also for the Human Service Center. She married Gary Jernigan on May 29, 1987 and they have since resided in Watertown, SD with many wonderful memories, a lot of traveling and fun.

She was a member of the Daughters of the American Veterans, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Eagles & Elks in Jamestown, and president of Elkettes in 1976-1977. She was a member of the Hillcrest Ladies Golf Assn, One Hour Martinizing bowling team and at one time bowled a 287 game. She has several trophies and awards.

She loved gardening, canning, planting, playing accordion & piano, listening to country oldies, reading, watching game shows, court TV, rodeos, lawn darts, cards, puzzles, skip-bo, all games?and she always won. Boating & catching walleye (the biggest ones) was her passion and spent time each year with Gary at Big Stone Lake, MN. She enjoyed countless hours on the computer and kept in touch with everyone she knew, remembering every occasion. Their home on Lake Kampeska was always open to host many friends and family who were blessed with her great meals! She cherished her grandchildren and her cat, Misty. She had a feisty spirit and a zest for living. She has blessed us all, is loved by all and will be remembered by all.

Darlene is survived by her husband, Gary of Watertown; two daughters, Lisa (Rory) (grandchildren, Ashley & Justin) Froehlich, Fairfax, VA and Traci (Marlyn) Bertsch (and pup, Shami), Jamestown; two sons, Mitchell (Jean) ( grandchildren Kristi, Cody, Aaron & Andrew) Graves, Longmont, CO and Darin (grandchild, Mariah) Graves, Battleground, WA; three step-sons, Rob Jernigan, Casper, WY, Chris (Mary) (step-grandchildren, Zach & Jordon) Jernigan, Great Falls, MT and Jeff Jernigan, Atlanta, GA; one sister, Delores Bagan-Holman (Jim) of Jamestown; one brother, Wilfred ""Sonny"" (Peggy) Johnson, Montpelier, ND and a close cousin, Marrietta Arneson, Watertown, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Alice, a brother, Jerald Johnson and a sister in infancy, Charlotte Johnson.

Funeral Service: 10:00 AM, Friday, June 4, 2004 at the First United Methodist Church, Jamestown with Rev. Bryce Tahran officiating.

Visitation: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Thursday, June 3, 2004 at the Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown, ND.

Prayer Service: 6:30 PM, Thursday, June 3, 2004 at the Eddy Funeral Chapel.

Burial: Nortonville Cemetery, Nortonville, North Dakota.