Darlene May (Finnell) Meade, 97, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in Auburn, Nebraska.
She was born May 21, 1928, in Cambridge, Nebraska to Dr. Lester and Theresa (Soeder) Finnell. Her childhood was spent primarily in Cambridge, until her family moved to Alliance, Nebraska, and eventually Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended Shelton Academy and graduated from Union College Academy in 1946. During her high school years, Darlene became a dedicated member of the Seventh-day Adventist church and participated in many church functions.
After graduating from high school, Darlene attended Union College for three years to pursue a career in nursing. However, this was disrupted when her father became ill and passed away in 1949. She then moved with her mother to Hemingford, Nebraska and taught elementary school. She married Roy Giles Meade, a farmer from rural Hemingford, in 1955, and went on to have three children: Janelle Jo (b. 1957), Jeffrey Giles (b. 1959), and Andrew Giles (b. 1961). The family lived and worked on the farm until 1967 when they rented the farm to their neighbors and moved to Alliance. Darlene returned to her studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Chadron State College in 1968.
While in Alliance, she worked as a substitute teacher while Roy worked as a journeyman welder. In 1983, she became a full-time special education teacher for Alliance Public School, while Roy worked as a welder for a railroad car repair shop. Darlene and Roy both retired in 1994. In retirement, she became co-chairman of the Friends of the Library’s annual book sale, remained active in the Adventist church, enjoyed numerous family vacations, and spent time with her grandchildren. In 2008, she moved to Auburn, Nebraska to be in a more accessible-friendly apartment. While in Auburn, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her children, Janelle Pyatt of Alliance; Jeffrey (Shannon Stemm) Meade of Auburn; Andrew Meade of Auburn; grandchildren, James Pyatt of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Madison Meade of Chicago, Illinois; sister-in-law, Delores Yoakum of Chadron, Nebraska; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roy, her brother Halbert Finnell, her son-in-law John Pyatt, and her sisters-in-law Lucille, Emily, and Joyce.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bates-Gould Chapel with Reverend Eric Morris officiating. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Memorials may be sent in care of Janelle Pyatt, 936 Box Butte Avenue, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301, for a future designation.