LOVE, Darlene Rae

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, January 05, 2014 Darlene Rae Love, 75, of Prescott, Ariz., passed away on Dec. 30, 2013. She was born to James Hough and the late Arlene Hough on Oct. 25, 1938. Darlene attended Downey High School and during that time thoroughly enjoyed athletics and the outdoors, actively pursuing a passion as a competitive junior golfer, winning more than 60 Junior Golf Tournaments, including being the first female to win both the Los Angeles City Junior Championship and the Los Angeles City Amateur at the age of 17. She went on to win the Mid-Winter Women's Amateur, one of the most prestigious national amateur events in the country, at the age of 18 at Los Angeles Country Club. She was regarded as one of the top women amateur golfers in the U.S. by the age of 18. She later chose to pursue a career in the golf industry and was chosen as the Head Professional and Golf Instructor at Fallbrook Golf Course, Fallbrook, Calif., and at that time was only one of a few women to attain such distinction as a Head Professional in Southern California. She finished her working career as an LPGA Professional at the Antelope Hills Golf Course, in Prescott, Ariz. Darlene regarded one of her greatest accomplishments to be overcoming alcoholism, and spent her last 38 years in sobriety. Following her sobriety, she spent many thousands of hours working with those overcome by drug and alcohol addiction, and was directly responsible for many lives being changed. She regarded her personal faith in Christ as a foundation for hope and strength. Family and friends were Darlene's passion and delight. She loved her parents, children and extended family, who all looked to Darlene for love and strength, and she seemed to have an unending reservoir to give to all. She had numerous loyal and close friends to whom the family is eternally grateful for their strong support and care during the latter years of decline in her health. Darlene is survived by her father, James Hough; her children Robert Lynn Boughner, James Boughner, Jeri Ryan, Robert Smuin, Mike Smuin and Gary Moore; as well as her brothers and sisters, Diane Albanese, Curt Hough, James Hough and Joyce Drozdowski; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one aunt; and a number of other relatives. The family wishes to thank all of those who cared for her during her illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Animal Friends, P.O. Box 11133, Prescott, AZ 86304. A Celebration of Life will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at Safe Harbor, 520 W. Delano St., Prescott, Ariz. Information provided by survivors.