DARLENE G. CHARRON

The daughter of the late Lawrence & Olga Bellmore was born April 14, 1935 in Alpena, Michigan where she was raised. The same year she graduated from Alpena High School, Darlene moved to the Detroit area to pursue her medical secretarial career, which did not last very long because, while in Detroit, she met the love of her life, Jerry Charron, at a dance. The couple was married on June 25, 1955. Jerry and Darlene loved to dance and spent 46 amazing years together before he passed away in 2001. Jerry was an iron worker and those big jobs took them all over the country for months at a time; one of the favorite times of their life together. Darlene was an avid golfer while in Alpena, playing in leagues and in tournaments whenever she had the chance, but somehow she also found time to work for several years at H & R Block in Alpena during tax seasons. They were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alpena for many years until Jerry’s death when Darlene moved to Sanford to be closer to family. Darlene lived in Old Oak Trails in Sanford where she made many wonderful friends through the years, including Dee and Duane Winslow whose friendship and support meant the world to her. Darlene loved playing cards, bingo, and jumping in a bus or anyone’s car that was heading to a casino.

Left to cherish Darlene’s memory are her daughter Cindy (Rev. Paul) Young, of Midland, son Duane Charron, of Marysville, Washington, granddaughters Abby (Kyle) Lipp, of Midland and Jessy (Mike) Harrold, of Freeland, great-grandsons Gavin and Dexton Harrold, sister Janet Rohn, of Alpena, brothers Larry (Janet) Bellmore and Neil Bellmore, of Alpena, many family members from the St. Clair area including special sister-in-law Jackie Erdmann, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her parents, Darlene was preceded in death by husband Jerry Charron, brothers-in-law Bob Rohn and Don Erdmann, sisters-in-law Barbara Bellmore and Cindy Bellmore.

A brief service and interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Alpena. A memorial service and celebration of Darlene’s life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 21 from 1-3 p.m. in the Old Oak Trails Clubhouse (on North Saginaw Road between Midland and Sanford). In lieu of flowers, memorials received will be put in Gavin & Dexton’s college accounts as her legacy lives on through her great-grandsons who she dearly loved.