Darlene Audrey Curtis, age 87, of Vienna, was born August 20,  1935, in St. Louis County, a daughter of Barney Clifford and Bertha Hattie (Abmeyer) Bye, and passed from this life Saturday, October 1, 2022, in Adams Street Place, Jefferson City.

After a whirlwind romance of three months, she was united in marriage November 10, 1956, at Fenton, to Gayle Eugene Curtis, and to this union, four children were born.

Darlene was a member of the Vienna United Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school Teacher, a Vacation Bible School worker, and a cook for church functions.  Darlene had been a Girl Scout Leader and a teacher for the Head Start Program.  She enjoyed playing cards, Quail hunting, and traveling.

During her working life, Darlene had been employed at the Highway Café, the Bull Pen Café, and had been the owner and operator of the Stockyard Inn Café for four years, all in Vienna.  She had also  worked with the Missouri Division of Family Services in Maries County and the Green Thumb Program.

Darlene is survived by her husband, Gayle; two sons, Bruce Curtis (Cindy) and Wade Curtis (Timberly), all of Vienna; one daughter, Cynthia Schmitz of Westphalia; ten grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren and another one anticipated in January of 2023; one brother, Glennon Bye (Helen) of High Ridge; nephews; nieces; other relatives; and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by one son, Eric Curtis; her parents, Barney and Bertha Bye; two brothers, Arthur Knigge and Carl Knigge; and two sisters, Florence Wirth and LaVerne Baum.

Visitation for Mrs. Darlene Curtis will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 8, 2022, in the Vienna United Methodist Church, 104 Highway 63, Vienna, MO 65582, with her funeral service following at 2:00 p.m. in the church with Rev. Larry Sorrells officiating under the direction of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, Vienna.

Interment Mrs. Curtis will be in James Community Cemetery, near Vienna, with Jason Curtis, Joshua Curtis, Bryan Curtis, Curtis Schmitz, Braden Schmitz, and Cody Schmitz as her pallbearers, and Amanda Helton, Jessica Thompson, Nickole Curtis, and Makayla Curtis as her honorary pallbearers.

Immediately following the cemetery service, the Curtis family extends an invitation to all in attendance to share a meal with them in the Vienna United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

Memorials in memory of Mrs. Darlene Curtis are suggested by her family to the Sunday school and Bible school programs of the Vienna United Methodist Church with envelopes available at the church the day of her service or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 250, Vienna, MO 65582.