Our beloved matriarch, mother, grandmother, sister and friend peacefully returned to her Father in Heaven on June 15, 2023, with her daughter Julie Terry, granddaughter Gena Khajavi, and sister Judy Bowthorpe by her side.
Diane was born on April 9, 1938 to Mern and Rex Mills. She was one of four children. Brothers Jack and Kent Mills and sister Judy Bowthorpe. She married the love of her life William (Bill) Stafford on August 10, 1955. Together they were a great team, and made everyone laugh.
Diane was a Mother to three children, and grandmother to twelve, and a great grandmother to eleven. Diane loved nothing more than her family. Holidays were filled with love and lots of food. The love she had for her family was grand, and she did everything she could for them. She raised three amazing children, and went on to help raise all of her grandchildren. She loved sports, she made sure all of the family knew how the Jazz were doing in their NBA season, and who was playing in the latest tennis match. She played tennis and was on a competitive team with dear friends.
Her house is the house where we all came together, and the house where we all felt at home. Diane was known for her generosity, integrity, strength, and true kindness. Her strength kept her family strong. Through the hardest times she held us together with love and commitment to her family.
Diane’s best friend was her sister Judy. They were two peas in a pod, and there was nothing more adorable than seeing these two together. She was also close with her brothers, she deeply loved them and always stayed close with them.
When Diane was a young girl her mother had given her a new scarf, gloves, and hat for winter. On her way to school, on a cold Utah morning she gave a kid her scarf and gloves. When her mother asked why, she responded with, because they were cold too. This is who Diane was, she wanted to give to everyone around.
Diane was always put together, rain or shine she would be well dressed with her lipstick on. Her laughter, smile, warm hugs, and coral lipstick will be missed.
Diane and Bill were sealed in the LDS temple for time and all eternity. Diane was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and cherished all the callings she held over her life including being a relief society president.
She is preceded in death by her dear husband William Stafford, her son Billy Stafford, her daughter Joni Lawlor, her grandsons Zach Marold, and Chaskin Chidester, her great granddaughter Vanessa Stafford as well her brother Kent Mills .
Viewing Saturday, June 24 at 11:30 to 12:30 at Cannon Mortuary on 2460 Bengal Blvd in Cottonwood Heights, followed by a graveside service at 1:00pm at Memorial Mountain View Mortuary Cemetery on 3115 Bengal Blvd in Cottonwood Heights.
