May 28, 1935 — Feb. 25, 2014

Darlene Kay Bakeman, age 78 of Niles died on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at Woodland Terrace at Longmeadow in Niles.

She was born May 28, 1935 in South Bend to Robert and Betty (Saatoff) Mallott.

On June 9, 1953 in Manhattan, Kansas she married Theodore “Ted” Bakeman. They were married over 57 years before he preceded her in death on April 26, 2009. Darlene and her husband made and distributed clocks and were the owners of T & K Clocks of Niles.

Darlene loved spending time her family and is survived by her children, Betty R. (Kenneth) Coquillard of Dowagiac, Deborah K. (Greg) Conley of Niles, Scott (Gail) Bakeman of Mishawaka, Kara K. Justin) McGuire of Niles, Kyle D. Bakeman of Niles, Travis T. Bakeman of Kalamazoo, 6 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one sister, Zella “Vickey” Kirchner of Elkhart.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband Ted, father Robert Mallott and mother Betty Palmer.

Funeral services for Darlene Kay Bakeman will be held at noon on Monday, March 3, 2014 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Rev. Robert Jackson of First Church of God in Niles. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday.

Donations in memory of Darlene may be made to Woodland Terrace Activities.

www.halbritterfunerals.com