Diana G. Thurman

Diana Gayle Thurman died a little after midnight at her Vancouver, WA home on August 25, 2009, taking her last breaths with her daughter Sarah, her mother Gayle, and her husband Scott by her side. She fought against breast cancer since first being diagnosed in February 2006. She kept at the fight through numerous surgeries and treatments, one remission, a recurrence, and all the highs and lows of the cancer journey. Throughout her short life she was confident, courageous, wise, inventive, creative, out-spoken, and passionate about many things. During her early childhood, she moved 33 times in 10 years, her father David Patterson was an engineer for the Federal Highways Department. From her birthplace in Cottonwood, Idaho, she traveled throughout Idaho finally settling in Vancouver in 1970. As a young woman, she continued to travel-through Europe, Greece, and Alaska. She loved to experience new things. She often spoke fondly of these travels and the adventures she shared with her traveling companions, particularly her long time friend, Trina. Her last earthly adventure was traveling to London and Paris in the summer of 2008, a trip of a lifetime for the family. Perhaps her love of travel fueled her love of history or visa versa. For she later pursued and obtained a Masters' Degree in Medieval history from Portland State University. Diana was filled with a special passion for life and for serving her Lord. She spent much of her time serving in the church, creating art and drama, and special worship experiences. She met her future husband through church in 1978 and most of the next 10 years were spent working together in various ways on church activities. In 1988 she finally married long-time friend, Scott Thurman and they began a life together. Through the 90s came children, Sarah (1994) and Scotty (1998), and the challenge of redefining her career path through the early part of the new century, from a stay-at-home mom to reentering the work force. She worked in the Evergreen School District as a budget secretary, utilizing her skills from a BA degree in business earned from Concordia (college) University. Later she went through an education program to receive her teaching certificate, and taught at the high school level in the area of social studies. Diana was a very gifted artist, costume designer, and seamstress. These skills were liberally applied to theater productions of all shapes and sizes, throughout her life. She could turn fabric into fantastic costumes in minutes, it seemed. She could take something drab and transform it into stage-ready works of art. Our house often looked like a production house for a large scale musical. She was a very pragmatic person, even when it came to fighting the illness. She faced numerous surgeries and treatments with tremendous bravery and tenacity. As the full realization of the battle became clearer she went to work preparing for the future, a future she would not see from this side of heaven. She prepared Hope Chests for both of her children, filled with gifts commemorating special occasions_birthdays, graduations, weddings, and baptisms for future grandchildren. She did all this with meticulous care. She tried never to ask Why?, although that question did come up sometimes, in her sad moments, moments when the cancer was getting the upper-hand. She refrained from asking Why? even after a cousin and her own father succumbed to their battles with cancer. Last summer, after her whole brain irradiation, she still found energy to pour herself into the Relay For Life Hope concert for survivors and fighters like herself. She and her mother, Gayle, worked tirelessly to help provide a hopeful experience in the midst of their own losses. Diana shared her enthusiasm with others who joined the event. Diana loved her Lord and her family very much. Her drive and determination will linger on in those who knew her. She had a special talent for putting beautiful touches on various projects, large and small. She always did the extra effort needed for birthdays and Christmases and special occasions. Diana is survived by her daughter, Sarah; son, Scotty; and her husband, Scott Thurman; her mother, Gayle Patterson; her sister, Kelli Findlay, and husband Doug and son Michael, all of Vancouver. A memorial service in her honor will be held Monday, August 31 at 1:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 11005 NE Highway 99, Vancouver, WA, 98686. In lieu of flowers, you can make donations to Hospice SW (PO Box 1600, Vancouver, WA 98668) or to Ruby Red Shoe Boxes (5701 West Arlington Ave, Yakima, WA 98908), which provides special gifts for amazing people who battle cancer daily.

Diana G. Thurman

September 13, 1960 - August 25, 2009