*Media Obituary*Johnnie Ruth Darden Tatum, 64, of Luther, died on Friday, December 10, 2004, in a local hospital. Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, December 13, 2004 at Mt. Olive Memorial Park, with Pastor Lynn Robertson, associate pastor of Community of Hope Church of the Nazarene, officiating. She was born on March 14, 1940, in Portales, New Mexico.Mrs. Tatum was a lifelong resident of Howard County. She had owned and operated Darden's Grocery and two Johnnie's Cafes, one in Sand Springs and one in downtown Big Spring. She took pride in serving as a Boy Scout leader. Johnnie enjoyed raising chickens, animals, gardening, ceramic painting, and cooking. She had a large collection of cookbooks.She was a Baptist.Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Allen and Sherry Darden of Luther; one daughter, Diana Sanders of Spring; two sisters, Leona French of Blanco, and Margie Fordham of Marietta, Georgia; two brothers, Jimmy McEachern and wife, Betty of San Angelo and Melvin McDougle and wife, Jan of Austin; two daughters-in-law, Bernice Darden of Big Spring and Shirley Day of Luther; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sons, Larry Don Darden, and Johnny Dean Darden; and one grandson, Jody Day. The family suggest memorials be made to the Humane Society, P.O. Box 823, Big Spring, Texas 79721-0823.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
