Biography

GENEVA MYRTLE RICE DARNELL

Geneva Myrtle Rice Darnell, beloved wife, mother and grand-mother died at home with her family surrounding her on February 15, 2008 in Grand Junction at the age of 87.

Geneva was born the first child of William Caraway Rice and Bertha Lela Finley Rice at the Rice homestead approximately 10 miles west of Cortez, Colorado. At the age of nine the family moved from the homestead farm to a dairy on the edge of Cortez.

Geneva learned to read from the Bible and started school in the second grade at Shiloh School. Geneva was given an achievement test in the fifth grade and completed fifth and sixth grade in one year. The next year she completed the seventh and eighth grade in one year, graduating high school one month after her sixteenth birthday. After high-school Geneva worked at Mesa Verde as a waitress and head waitress for two summers, waiting to turn eighteen so she could attend Ross Business College in Grand Junction. While attending Ross Business College Geneva met the love of her life, Ross Darnell. They were married January 12, 1941 in Greenriver, UT.

For the past 62 years Geneva has made her home in Grand Junction. Geneva was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many responsible positions. Geneva’s primary focus was her family and her church family.

Geneva is survived by her two sons, Donald R. (Celia) Darnell of Westcliffe, CO and Michael D. (Shirley) Darnell of Heber City, UT; her two daughters, JoAnn Brennan of Burbank, CA and Linda (Paul) Hagen of Farmington, NM; two sisters, Cora Belle (Carl) James of La Habra CA, Eileen (Art) Bulla of Grand Junction; sister-in-law Nell Nichols of Tallapoosa, GA and brother-in-law Joe (Brenda) Darnell of Cedartown, GA; numerous nephews and nieces; 21 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

Geneva was preceded in death by her husband Ross C. Darnell; her parents and brothers, Cleo Rice and Leo Rice; grandson Andrew E. Pyle; and son-in-law, Melvin J. Brennan.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday February 18, 2008 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2542 G Road under the direction of Bishop Vernon King. There will be a viewing beginning at 12:00 noon at the church. Visitation will be from 7-8 p.m. Sunday February 17th at Martin Mortuary. Interment will be at Grand Junction Municipal Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado.