Dianne Davis
Dianne Davis was born Oct. 2, 1943. She died June 23, 2023.
Born in Imperial, Nebraska, Dianne was the youngest of nine children born to Percy and Winnie Travis. She was raised on the family ranch in Holyoke and attended elementary school at the Pleasant Valley country school. She attended Holyoke High School, where she met her future husband and graduated in 1961.
After high school, she attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, for two years. Graceland is a church college affiliated with the Community of Christ, in which she was a lifetime member. Dianne transferred to UNC in Greeley, graduating in 1965 with a B.A. degree in education.
Dianne married Ronald Davis on Aug. 8, 1965, in Holyoke. She taught English in Fort Lupton while her husband finished his B.A. at UNC. They then took jobs in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two years later, they moved back to Holyoke and welcomed their first daughter, LaDean, in 1968.
The family then moved to Greeley two years later so Ron could finish his M.A. degree. In 1971, they landed in Montrose County, where their second daughter, Wendy, was born in 1972.
After moving to Delta, Dianne worked as a school bus driver before giving birth to her son, Ryan, who died shortly after birth on July 12, 1981. Dianne returned to teaching English that fall — one year at Paonia High School, one at Delta Middle School, then at Delta High School until 1996.
During her teaching career, Dianne successfully directed five musicals and several plays. “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Oklahoma,” “Sound of Music,” “South Pacific” and “Flower Drum Song” were among them. Her love of literature and poetry showed in her wonderful ability to recite many readings and poems by heart. In addition, she was a very gifted poet herself. She was a highly successful speech coach for many years. She was also a long-standing member of the PEO GT chapter in Delta.
Due to health, Dianne was forced to retire early. Despite losing most of her fingers and becoming a bilateral amputee, Dianne still continued embracing life by helping her daughter, Wendy, coach the DAAL school students for their yearly performances. Her great love of horses and dogs continued by helping her daughters with their shows. She also loved sharing her enthusiasm for the Broncos and Colorado Avalanche.
Dianne is survived by her husband, Ron Davis; daughters and sons-in-law, LaDean and Tom Faris and Wendy and Darel Reed; grandsons, Camren and Connor Reed; step-granddaughter, Mikinna Hays; four step-great-grandchildren; siblings, Joyce Weddle, Karen Trumper, LaDean Spinuzzi and Ron Travis; service dog, Kanu; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by both her parents; three brothers, Stan, Larry and Ed; one sister, Mary Anne; her infant son, Ryan Allen Davis; and her service dog, Sobe.
She now has her place in heaven — probably organizing a drama production with Jesus as the lead.
Services were scheduled for Thursday, June 29, at 3 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home in Delta. Burial will take place later at Pleasant Valley Cemetery east of Holyoke.
Memorial donations may be sent to Delta Academy of Applied Learning (DAAL school) at 3822 1940 Road, Delta, CO 81416 or HopeWest Hospice.