Darlene Grace McCarty

Passed peacefully March 5, 2022 following a courageous battle with uterine leiomyosarcoma. Darlene was born in Spokane, and was raised between the Spokane Reservation in Wellpinit, WA and the City of Spokane with her mom Ella McCarty, Effie Hill, and sister Edythe. She spent her summers with her father Spencer McCarty and many cousins on the Makah Reservation in Neah Bay, WA. Darlene studied drama and creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, New Mexico. She enjoyed reading, learning, traveling, and writing to her many penpals and fans. Some of her favorite places to visit were Hawaii, San Francisco, New Mexico, and Seattle. Darlene tirelessly advocated for all, especially for adequate healthcare coverage and affordable housing. She stood for and with her community. She was recognized for her compassion, determination, joy, and strength. Grandma Darlene earned international fame for her nonspeaking role as Nana Anuk in the SyFy series Z Nation. She played a wise Indigenous grandmother who was attentive and protective of her family, but this is also who she was off screen. Although her role was nonspeaking, many fans are touched and impacted by the way she communicated sass, strength, and humor with her expressions in the show. You could find Darlene walking about Spokane from her Browne's Addition apartment to her local coffee shop Caffe Capri, the post office, nearby thrift shops, or the SYSA bingo hall. After her recent diagnosis following remission, Grandma was eager to get to the casino as often as possible to play slots. Darlene is survived by her only child Barbara, her grandchildren Symetria, Uriah, Lance, siblings Polly and Spencer McCarty, nephew Earle Hunter, Jr., niece Mathilda Nomee (Wildshoe), and grandchildren Delilah, Richard, Steven, Michelle, Horace, William, and Wesley. She was predeceased by her father Spencer McCarty, mother Ella McCarty Butcher, sisters Edythe and Mary, and niece Nancy Wildshoe. Darlene also had many chosen family members she loved and adored.