Darlene Johnson, 93 of Aledo, met her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, while surrounded by the love of her family at Genesis Medical Center, Aledo. A celebration of Darlene’s life will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at the First Baptist Church, Aledo. Private burial will be in Aledo Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 6 p.m., Monday, at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Aledo, Mercer County VFW Auxiliary, or to the Aledo Rhubarb Fest for benches to be placed in Central Park.
Norma Darlene McBride was born on June 19, 1930, near Alexis, Illinois, to Alfred Lester and Ruby Eva (Reynolds) McBride. She married John E. “Johnny” Johnson on August 8, 1948. He preceded her in death in 1989.
Darlene began her working career as a Kindergarten teacher for the Aledo School District. She also assisted her husband at his photography studio, Carlson Studios in Aledo. In later years, she opened the House of Burgess in Aledo where she did long arm quilting and taught quilting classes.
The House of Burgess was where Darlene had the first Rhubarb tasting in 1988. From small beginnings, the Aledo Rhubarb Fest grew into what it is today, a family-oriented festival drawing thousands to Aledo each year. Darlene was always very civic-minded and wanted the community to benefit from the festival, and it has in the 30+ years it has taken place.
Darlene continued her civic involvement by belonging to the Mercer County VFW Auxiliary and the Mercer County Quilt Guild, where she served both as President, and Aledo Main Street, and she was the founder of the Avenue of Flags in Aledo. She was a devout member of the First United Presbyterian Church where she served as Elder and taught Sunday School and then the Aledo First Baptist Church, where she attended this past Christmas Eve Service.
Those left to cherish Darlene’s memory include two sons and daughters-in-law: Dennis and Holly Johnson of Lexington, Kentucky, and Steve and Peggy Johnson of Aledo; grandchildren: Megan and Jamie DeHart, Stephanie and Peter Brennan, Melissa Johnson and Chris Stewart, Nicholas and Karalyn Johnson, and Emily and Brad Rhodus; great-grandchildren: Peter, Emma, Drew, Elise, Paige, Wyatt, and Miriam; and sister: Nancy Fowler of Aledo. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters: Phyllis Mizner and Doris Chadwick;, and brothers: Earl, Rolland, Carroll, and Jerry McBride.