Darlene was born January 4, 1929 at Quincy, Kansas to Bert and Edna (Barnard) Kester. She attended the rural school, grades 1 through 8 near Toronto, Kansas.      

     She then attended the local high school where she graduated.
She married James Hamilton in September of 1946. She and Jim moved to Denver where Darlene worked for the May Company as a bookkeeper.
     They moved to Limon, Colorado when Jim joined the Colorado State Patrol in 1949. Jim was transferred to Grand Junction, Colorado where their son Stephen was born in 1950.
     Jim was called back into the Marine Corp. in 1951 and the family spent the next year in the Sierra Mountains of California at a cold weather training camp. When Jim was discharged form the United States Marine Corp, the family came to Lamar with the State Patrol.
      Darlene worked for a couple years with Montgomery Ward before she was hired as office manager of the Lamar Chamber of Commerce. She spent the rest of her career with the chamber, semi-retiring in1991.
Darlene continued to be affiliated with the chamber for several years.
     Darlene went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. She was 78.
     She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jim of the family home. Her son Stephen (Jean Scriven) Hamilton of Caddoa, Colorado, a step granddaughter, Pamela Scriven, step great grandson, Raydan Bencomo as well as her sister, Sue (Charles) Goss of Toronto, Kansas and a brother, Steven (Dolly) Kester also of Toronto, Kansas.
     Darlene will also be missed by her many friends.

     A celebration of Darlene Hamilton’s life was held at 10:00 AM, Monday, April 2, 2007 at the Peacock Family Chapel with Ray Matteson of the Lamar Christian Church officiating. A private graveside service followed at Fairmount Cemetery in Lamar.

     Musical selections included Darlene's favorite song, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Rock of Ages" sang by Les Scriven and accompanied on the organ by Mary Olson.

     Serving as casketbearers were Rick Akers, Bob McClung, Lee Robinson, Bryan Herrera, Gordon Guihen and Marvin Lane.

     Following the chapel services, the family left the funeral home by percession which was led by representatives of the Colorado State Patrol in honor and recognition of Darlene's husband, Jim.

     Memorial Contributions may be made to the Lamar Area Hospice direct at P.O. Box 843, Lamar, CO  81052 or through the Peacock Funeral Home.