Cretus Lorene Darby

Jun 16, 1927 -

Mar 4, 2021

Cretus Lorene Darby passed away on March 4, 2021, at the home of her daughter in Tucson, Ariz.

Cretus was born on June 16, 1927, in Akron, Colo., to Arthur and Minnie Davisson. She was the fifth of 10 children. She went to school with Barry Darby, fell in love and married him on July 30, 1945. They had six children and lived in Oregon and California till 1957, when Barry decided to go to Alaska. Mom followed him to Alaska the end of June with two other families. She drove a 1957 Chevy with all six children, ages 2 to 11, a dog and a parakeet.

They raised their family in Chugiak, Alaska. Cretus worked as a cook and a housecleaner several years, then went to work as a custodian at the Eagle River Elementary School. When the Chugiak High School was built she was transferred there as Head Custodian where she worked till she retired. Cretus and Barry then moved to Wilbur, Wash., where she lived for 24 years before moving to Tucson to live with her daughter Karen and son-in-law Bill for the last 6 1/2 years.

After Cretus retired she started collecting dolls and had over 300 of them till she moved to Tucson. She loved to crochet towels and work on plastic grid to sell in arts and craft shows.

She loved her family and friends and was always willing to help where ever she could. A ride to the doctors, for groceries or just to sit and visit. She loved hugs!

Cretus is survived by four children, Karen Campbell of Tucson , Darrell Darby of Petersville, Alaska, Dennis Darby of Canby, Ore., and Terry Darby of Petersville; three sisters, Ruth Schippert of Fort Morgan, Colo., Lila Pribble of Salem, Ore., and Emma Jorgensen of Fort Morgan; 17 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; 13 1/2 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cretus was preceded in death by her husband, Barry Darby in 1997; son, Ernest Darby in 2008; and son, Arthur Darby in 2014.

Funeral services will be held graveside in the Wilbur Cemetery on April 17, 2021, at 1 p.m.