Darolene Mae Reynolds

Darolene Mae Reynolds, 89, of Kimball Township, peacefully inherited her heavenly home on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 with her family at her side after a brief illness.

She was born May 20, 1932 in Coleman, Michigan, to the late Charles G. and Florence Watson. She married her college sweetheart and the love of her life, the Rev. Lyle A. Reynolds, on July 21, 1956 in Coleman and they recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.

Mrs. Reynolds earned a B.A. in Christian Ministries from Owosso Bible College and an Elementary Education degree from Michigan State University. Her first job was teaching 7th & 8th grade in Honor, Michigan while commuting to MSU to complete her degree. She continued to teach in the public school system for many years as she and Lyle held several pastorates around the state of Michigan. Her main focus was lower elementary students, often tutoring in the evenings. She felt her primary calling in life however, was to be a helpmate to her husband and their children. Her love of teaching spilled over into the churches as she taught various Sunday School classes, Bible schools and adult and teen Bible studies.

She is survived by her husband, Lyle; two daughters, Peggy Dell of St. Clair and Cynthia (Dale) Frey of Smiths Creek; five grandchildren, Adam Dell, Aubree (Andrew) Reich, Andrea Dell, Brian (Chelsea) Frey and Matthew Frey; great grandchildren, Noah Dell, Meg Frey, Benjamin Reich, Ava Reich and Hayes Frey; a brother, Gilbert (Anne) Watson; a sister, June McRae; a brother-in-law, William Zanley; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved sisters, Ilene Zanley and Laura Watson; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday in Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2021 in Lakeport Wesleyan Church. Darolene’s nephew, the Reverend Greg Reynolds, will officiate.

Burial will be in Coleman Cemetery, Coleman, Michigan, at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021. Pallbearers will be Adam Dell, Noah Dell, Brian Frey, Matthew Frey, Dale Frey and Andrew Reich.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lakeport Wesleyan Church Missions Department. To send condolences, visit karrersimpson.com

Things mom LOVED: Her Savior and Lord - everything in her world revolved around this; her immediate and extended family - her last goal in this world was to attend the last family reunion; teaching in public school and the church; missions and missionary trips - her best being visiting Aubree in Haiti; traveling, especially the Chaparral’s, Alaska and Panama with the church.