Diane Gardner Reid November 22, 1945 - August 24, 2025

Diane Gardner Reid, 79, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2025, in Payson, Utah, surrounded by her loving family after courageously living with Alzheimer’s disease.  She was born in Spanish Fork, Utah, on November 22, 1945, to R. Marvin Gardner and Louise Taylor.

Diane was raised in a hard-working home on the south end of Main Street in Spanish Fork, where her father was a farmer and rancher and her mother was a homemaker.  She was the oldest sister to four sporting brothers: Steve, Larry, Mike, and Craig.  She loved and supported her brothers her entire life.

Diane grew up riding horses, helping with chores, reading books, and playing the piano.  She was a cheerleader and baton twirler.  She graduated from Spanish Fork High School as valedictorian and was crowned Miss Spanish Fork in 1964.

Diane married Roger Reid in the Salt Lake Temple on September 15, 1966.  She made her own wedding dress.  Their enduring love elevated them through 59 years of marriage.

Diane danced as a Cougarette at Brigham Young University.  She graduated with Roger from Weber State University in 1968, where she earned a degree in English.  She later taught elementary school for many years in the Nebo School District.  She carefully crafted her daily lesson plans and loved helping children learn to read.  Her students appreciated her kindness, humility, and spirit.

Diane uprooted for Roger’s professional baseball career and had her first child, Randy, in Appleton, Wisconsin, where Roger was playing for the White Sox’s minor league club.  When Roger started coaching basketball at Payson High School in 1971, Diane became his greatest supporter and the beating heart of his success.  She attended hundreds of games over his 40-year coaching career with Payson High, Clearfield High, BYU, the Phoenix Suns, Snow College, and Southern Utah.

Diane’s greatest joy in life was her family.  Diane and Roger had five children: Randy, Robbie, Davey, Darren, and Kelli Ann.  Diane devoted all her time and energy to them.  When Davey unexpectantly passed away in 1980 at nearly four years old, she navigated the loss of her son with grace and dignity.  She loved to tell stories about Davey wearing his cowboy boots—and she was certain of a joyful reunion with him.

Diane was a skilled pianist and instilled in her children a love for art, culture, music, and dance.  Her “Sleigh Ride” piano duet with her best friend, Jeannette Taylor, was always the highlight of Christmas Eve.  She loved old Hollywood movies, cheeseburgers, licorice, and a well-provisioned purse.  With her distinctive penmanship, she wrote the best letters to her sons as they served missions in New Jersey, Greece, and South Africa.

Diane was classy and modest; she never sought attention for herself.  She dressed to the nines and was exceptionally organized and always on time.  She knew how to can peaches, pears, and strawberry jam.  She was an expert seamstress and enjoyed making clothing and quilts with her mother, Louise.  Diane’s special bond with her mother, who was widowed for 25 years, was a powerful example of love and fidelity.

Diane enjoyed watching her 14 grandchildren at dance recitals and baseball and basketball games.  She was thrilled with their triumphs.  And she never missed an opportunity to give them the best Christmas gifts.

Diane possessed a deep and abiding faith in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  She loved sacred music and served faithfully in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Young Women President and Relief Society President.  She was quick to minister to friends and neighbors.

In the final chapter of her life, Diane was lovingly cared for by Roger as she experienced the indignities of Alzheimer’s disease.  But even then, she was filled with light and joy, happily smiling and talking with family and friends long after her memory had eluded her.  She enjoyed snacking on “yummy bites” and riding along with Roger at the golf course or in his “big red truck.”  She affectionately called Roger her “Superman” (sometimes over and over) and counted on him for her every need.

Her final gift to Roger and her family and friends was her most poignant: she helped them discover more compassion, sacrifice, and faithfulness as they cared for her in intimate ways.

Diane’s life was a grace.  She lived Christ’s greatest paradox: “whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39.)  Roger and her children take great comfort that she will be embraced again, fully herself, in the very real heaven that awaits.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Louise Gardner; her brother Larry (Jana Rae) Gardner; and her son, David Charles Reid.  She is survived by her brothers Steve (Debra) Gardner, Mike (Shauna) Gardner, and Craig (Tracy) Gardner; her children Randy (Erin) Reid, Robbie Reid, Darren (Shelley) Reid, and Kelli Ann (Jason) Schwarz; and her grandchildren Ryan (Alyssa), Duncan, Naomi, and Griffin Reid; Dylan, Colin, Evan, Caroline, and Claire Reid; and Cooper, Crew, Tanner, Violet, and Roman Schwarz.

Diane’s family gives thanks to her wonderful caregivers including Dr. Richard Olsen, the nurses and techs at Orchard View, and her angel neighbors, the Taylors and Kramers.

Friends may call Thursday evening, August 28, from 6pm to 8pm at the Walker Funeral Home (187 South Main Street in Spanish Fork, Utah) and August 29 from 9:30am to 10:45am at the Crosswinds First Ward Chapel (870 East Canyon Rd, Spanish Fork, Utah).

Funeral services will be August 29 at 11:00am at the chapel.

Interment will be at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.