Diane Carol Smith

Diane was born on December 10th, 1933 to Marguerite (Primm) and John Cairns. She was the first of their four children. Diane grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. The family lived on the same street as her grandparents. She developed a love for botany and gardening from her Grandpa Primm.

When she was 16-years-old, she met Tom Smith at 4H camp. They both reported that they knew right away that they had found their person. They were married in 1952 and had four children - Chris, Mark, Cathy, and Marcia. They lived all over the United States – North Carolina, Minnesota, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, and Utah. Diane was a supportive and loving wife and mother, dedicating her time and energy to her family. She worked in audio-visuals for the high school and later as a realtor. Though, she often spoke of how she would have loved to have been a doctor. Diane meticulously curated beautiful gardens in each of the unique climates they lived in. The art traveled beyond her garden where she enjoyed classical music, the creation of art in many media, and the viewing of art in many places.

Tom and Diane had 12 grandchildren whom she called "the jammas of the ocean”: Stephanie, Jeremiah, Sarah, Jeni, Christopher, Nate, April, Tommy, Jamie, Hannah, Heidi, and William. Diane loved being a grandma and had an enduring impact on her grandchildren's lives.

After Tom retired, they moved back to Colorado to live on their 6-acre parcel in Berthoud. They spent their retirement RVing with her brother and sister in Alaska and the US. Despite the odds, Diane won her battle against ovarian cancer in 2014, which allowed her to care for her ailing husband in his last years.

Diane is survived by her four children and their spouses – Chris (Joanne), Mark (Amy), Cathy (Lynn), and Marcia (Brent), her three siblings (Marcia, Jerry, and Cindy), and eleven of her grandchildren as well as 12 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Tom, and her grandson, Tommy.

A viewing will be held at Veigut Funeral Home on Thursday, June 12th, from 10:00-12:00. At 1616 N. Lincoln Avenue, Loveland, Colorado. Diane’s Funeral Service will be held on June 13th at 10:00 am at Abiding Love Lutheran Church, 2825 E 1st St, Loveland, Colorado, and her inurnment will be at Loveland Cemetery, 1702 Cleveland Ave, Loveland, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition National Ovarian Cancer Coalition: Donate.  

Diane was well-loved and will be missed dearly.