Cover photo for Darlene Joy Tennison Read's Obituary
Darlene Joy Tennison Read Profile Photo
1935 Darlene 2020

Darlene Joy Tennison Read

October 23, 1935 — December 26, 2020

Darlene Joy Tennison Read, 85, of Orange, went home to be with her dear heavenly Father on December 26, 2020 at her home.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 2, at Calvary Baptist Church in West Orange. Officiating will be Reverend David Millner. Burial will follow at Autumn Oaks Cemetery.

Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, at Calvary Baptist Church.

Born in Ada, Oklahoma, on October 23, 1935, she was the daughter of Dr. Lilburn Burrows and Beulah (Young) Burrows. Darlene grew up in the country of India, where her parents served as medical and educational missionaries. She graduated from high school at Woodstock High in Mussoorie, Landour, India, in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. While there, she excelled in both academics and sports, holding the school record in high jump for many years. She also became fluent in several languages during her time at Woodstock High. After graduation, she returned to the States and enrolled in Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, where she encountered a tall stranger named Bill Tennison. Though very quiet and shy, she was quite taken with his outgoing and energetic personality. On November 26, 1954, they began a marriage journey that would last over 55 years. In the early years of their marriage, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from UTMB in Galveston and began a career which spanned 40 years. In following her husband’s coaching positions, Darlene’s nursing experiences took her to many hospitals in Texas where she filled many roles: flight nurse, emergency room nurse, charge nurse, and her final position as a plant nurse at DuPont in Orange. Along the way, she has been in almost every gym in the state of Texas, being ever-present to support the teams that “Coach T” was leading. God blessed her with a beautiful singing voice, and she used that talent to be a part of every church choir where they were members. Darlene was a long-standing member of the barbershop chorus, The Sweet Adelines, in which she made many life-long friendships. She faithfully served her Lord at Calvary Baptist Church in Orange and her ministry titles were many- VBS teacher, Gideon wife, deacon wife, Sunday School teacher, children’s choir teacher, etc. Within the family she was known for her quick wit and competitive spirit. She could grow roses and violets like a pro and knitted and crocheted many items that her family cherishes. She was lovingly known to her grandchildren as “Mamaw Tennis”.

Darlene’s children and grandchildren cannot convey the depth of gratitude which they owe to her caregivers who were hand-chosen by God – Alice Boston, Mary Doucet, Belinda Gold, Dorothy Bean, and former caregivers, Diana Palmer and Bobbie Brown. They provided Mom with a safe environment in her home, where she knew she was loved and protected. Her family would also like to thank Micca Riedel and her staff at Horizon Family Practice & Geriatrics for their compassionate and patient care of Mom over the last few years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Lilburn and Beulah Burrows; husband of 55 years, Bill Tennison, known to her as “Sweet William”; second husband, John Read whom she made sweet memories with for six years; and brothers, Dr. Gene Burrows and Royce Burrows.

She is survived by her children, John Tennison and wife Gaye of North Carolina, Becky Sparks and husband Cecil “Sparky” of Orange, Jerry Tennison and wife Melissa of Spring, Michelle Klenck and husband Dan of Alexandria, Virginia, and Jim Tennison of Bedford; grandchildren, John David, Mark Andrew, Paul Joseph Tennison, Kristen, Brandon, and Casey Sparks and fiancée Alex Holland, Mitchell, Cassie, Abby, Will, and Micah Tennison, Lila Klenck, & Sevyn and Izzy Tennison.

Serving as pallbearers will be her sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Gideons International at 914 Bowlin Ave, Port Neches, Texas, 77651.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Darlene Joy Tennison Read, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, January 2, 2020

10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)

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Funeral Service

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

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