Darlene Phyllis Bates Workman was born on June 10, 1937, in Los Angeles, California, to Edgar and Erma Bates and was the thirteenth of fourteen children. Darlene passed away in her sleep on March 7, 2026, from Leukemia in the Pete Moore Hospice House. She was 88 years old.
Darlene spent her younger years growing up in Southern California before the family moved to Oregon. She graduated from Creswell High School and then attended Beauty School in Springfield, Oregon.
She married Dean Workman on March 3, 1956, and would have celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary this year.
After Dean’s retirement, they sold the family farm in Creswell and moved to the Springfield/Eugene area. They bought a 5th Wheel and traveled around the country. Winters were spent snowbirding in Yuma, Arizona, for 16 years before they settled in Eugene for health reasons. They eventually moved into Sheldon Oaks Retirement Home, where Darlene lived for almost 10 years. She loved the community there and became the Ambassador for new retirees moving into the facility.
Darlene is survived by her son, Rick (Jessie) Workman of Eugene; Teresa (Kirk) Mauser of Sunriver; 4 grandchildren Bradly Workman of Coos Bay; Brianne Naber of Springfield; Celese Donahue Mauser of Eugene; Walter Workman of Eugene; 5 great grandchildren, Alexa Roseberry of Monroe; Bentley Mauser of Eugene; Ashton Naber of Springfield; Maddox Donahue of Eugene; and Oakley Workman of Eugene. She is also survived by her brother, Vern Bates of Creswell, twelfth born and last surviving sibling of fourteen children. She is predeceased by her spouse, Dean; daughter, Wendy Sue Workman; parents, Ed and Erma Bates; and siblings, Dorothy, Chester, Donna, Forrest, Merle, Arthur, Gordon, Roger, Dolly, Dale, Denise, and Tim.
The Family wishes to thank Cascade Hospice for providing such great care.
Per her wishes, no funeral will be held. Burial will be in the Creswell Pioneer Cemetery, Creswell, Oregon.
