Darla Saling

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Darla Sharlene Saling joined her parents and sister in death on January 30, 2026, at Good Samaritan Health Center, at the age of 79. Her family was with her until the very end. Darla was born on August 18, 1946, in Corvallis, Oregon, to Gordon William Ervin and Cleo Bernice Ervin. She was raised in Corvallis and graduated from Corvallis High School in 1964, maintaining strong ties to the community throughout her life. As a teenager and young adult, Darla had a deep love of dancing. She eagerly took to the dance floor whenever music was playing, a joyful expression of a lighter, spirited side that those who knew her well would always remember. She married Fred William Saling Jr., and together they had two daughters, Shellie (born 1965) and Shannan (born 1971). After their separation, Darla devoted herself fully to her family—caring for both of her parents until their deaths in 2000 and 2007 and remaining a constant presence in her daughters’ lives. In particular, she played an essential role in helping her daughter Shellie and son-in-law Stanley Davidson raise their two daughters, Chantelle and Breonna. Upon her father’s passing, Darla moved into the family home, where she was able to live until her last days, largely due to the efforts of her son-in-law, John Simmons. Some of Darla’s fondest memories were made during annual family trips to Seaside and while traveling with her older sister, Kathy Anderson, who passed in 2023, and her parents. She also loved large family holidays filled with laughter and competition, including especially boisterous rounds of Scattergories and Catchphrase. These gatherings fueled her determination to perfect the holiday table—most notably her Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing. Her family remains grateful to the Food Network for its inspiration to include herbs and spices. In her later years, Darla became well known for her absolute and unwavering refusal to wear hearing aids—despite mounting evidence that she could not hear particularly well. As her hearing declined, family gatherings grew noticeably louder, a loving adjustment made so she never missed a story, a joke, or a moment. Inspired by her own mother, Darla embraced a stoic life of muffled hearing, and the family adapted accordingly—at full volume. Darla was also an avid reader and a committed night owl. She spent countless late evenings lost in mystery novels, frequently filling large WinCo produce boxes with books she had already devoured. When the Kindle was introduced, it quickly became apparent that she might have done well to invest in Amazon stock, given the sheer volume of reading it enabled. When not reading, she spent her time blasting her favorite Meidas Touch Network podcast through a Bluetooth speaker. Darla will be remembered for her devotion to family, her quiet strength, her stubborn independence, her love of books, and the care she showed through constancy, presence, and sharing a meal. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

Darla Saling

August 18, 1946 - January 30, 2026