Darla June (Caster) Kelley, the daughter of Wendell and Janet (Pope) Caster was born at Eldora, Iowa on October 18, 1950. Darla attended Union-Whitten Schools until the beginning of her sophomore year of high school when her family moved to Zearing, Iowa. Darla graduated from NESCO High School in Zearing in 1969. She worked for Colonial Manor nursing home at Zearing for several years, caring for many people.

Darla was united in marriage to Fred Jones; they later divorced. She was blessed with a son, Nathan Jones. Darla married Kerry Kelley and moved to Oregon with her husband and son. She most recently lived in Dallas, Oregon. While living there, Darla returned to her love of caring for people, working in their homes through a home health agency. It is too numerous to count how many people's lives she blessed while caring for them.

Darla was known for her eloquent letter writing, whether it be corresponding with her siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins or friends from her days of growing up in Union and Zearing. She loved to get letters and phone calls from these friends and family also. Darla was known for amazing memory of events and happenings from the past. Whenever family would try to remember something, but couldn't quite recall the details, someone would always say, "ask Darla, she will remember," and she always did.

Darla passed from this earthly life on May 17, 2023, at the age of 72, at a hospital in Oregon after several years of failing health. Darla is survived by her husband, Kerry Kelley; her son, Nathan Jones, both of Oregon; two sisters, Kathy (Joey) Dyslin of Cherokee, IA and Angela (Larry) Rasmusson of Nevada, IA; two brothers, Steve (Becky) Caster of McCallsburg, IA and Robert (Julie) Caster of Polk City, IA; her aunts, Betty Posusta, Ardis Caster and Becky Caster; her uncle, Roy Caster; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and cousins on both the Caster and Pope side, along with her friends in Iowa and Oregon.

Darla was preceded in death by her parents, Wendell and Janet Caster; her brother, Kim Lee Caster in infancy; her grandparents, Everett and Orpha Caster and Ross and Grace Pope; her great-grandparents, Roy and Pearl Carter; her uncles and aunts, Jim Caster, Wayne Caster, Ludwig and Reva Dostal, Margaret Sanders, Anna Caster, Art Posusta, Gerald Pope, Ray Caster in infancy, Ed and Velma Steinfeldt, Carl and Roberta King and Elmer and Irene Hart.

A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Union Cemetery (32548 County Highway S62) near Union.  A reception will follow at the Union Community Church (402 3rd Street) in Union.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in memory of Darla. Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.