Diane Miller Current

Diane Evalice Miller Current, of San Rafael, California, was born on August 27, 1937 and passed away on December 20, 2021, aged 84. She was the eldest daughter of Robert Earl Miller and Florence Lillian Nelson Miller of Seattle, Washington. Diane grew up in Bellevue and Whidbey Island, Washington.

She studied Home Economics at the University of Washington, where she was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority, graduating in 1958. She married Jerry Hall Current on June 23, 1961, celebrating 60 years of marriage with him this year. The couple lived in Berkeley, California; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Glenshaw, Pennsylvania; Houston, Texas; and San Rafael, California, with extended work stays in the Hague, The Netherlands; Haverfordwest, Wales; and Caracas, Venezuela. They also traveled recreationally, starting with a cross-country drive as newlyweds, and including trips to Canada, Greece, Barcelona, Mexico, and Costa Rica, and many family vacations on Cape Cod and the beaches of North Carolina.

Diane enjoyed working, with stints in retail, office work, and several long-term positions at art galleries. One of her early jobs was as a secretary for IBM Service Bureau. “I can’t overstress my disinterest in learning anything about computers,” she later wrote. “It seemed outrageous to me that the 650 had an air conditioned room; when we, genuine human beings, did not.”

A talented fiber artist who made quilts and sold quilted children’s clothing, she was passionate about creating and viewing all kinds of art. She loved reading books and ran a successful online used book store, Current Books. She was a leader in the League of Women Voters and president of the Embroiderers’ Guild of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

One thing we will all miss is Diane’s witty sense of humor. In the last few years she enjoyed exploring her own writing with a small group of beloved friends; a fellow member noted “Somehow, no matter how tender our deep sharing, every time we would end up laughing in rollicking fun, occasionally making so much noise your dad would come upstairs to see what was going on.”

She was also quite a collector, of buttons, fabrics, art work, Bakelite, Mexican alebrijes, and above all, books.

Diane was a lifelong church member and enjoyed her participation in the church choir, movie group, book studies, and being an Elder at First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael. The Currents were also longstanding members of Christ Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, and Diane continued to enjoy Brunch Bunches with members of that congregation over the years.

In a piece entitled “Legacy,” she wrote about the values she inherited from her parents, concluding:

Remember the doers and makers. Go for quality. Be smart. Don’t forget to be nice. Oh, go ahead: Be ambitious. Don’t count on luck. Be resourceful. Education is a good thing. Caution is advised.

Diane leaves behind her husband, Dr. Jerry Hall Current, of San Rafael, CA; three children, Karen Current of Carrboro, NC; Pamela Motl of Allen, TX; and Jim Current of San Rafael, CA. She had five grandchildren, Nelson Herrera of San Francisco, CA; Blake Motl of Allen, TX; Calvin Herrera of Carrboro, NC; Daniel Motl of Allen, TX; and Miguel Herrera of Carrboro, NC. She is survived by her sister, Kelly Miller Ford and husband Dr. Thomas Ford of Newton, MA; her brother, Bruce Miller and wife Elizabeth of Seattle, WA; brother-in-law Jim Current and wife Jane of Anderson, SC; and cousin Nancy Greenfield of Larkspur, CA. She was very fond of her nieces and nephews, Carol Hill of Florence, SC; Don Current of Bloomington, IL; Clare Merrick of Whidbey Island, WA; Lindsey Setterlund of Seattle, WA; Jamie Ford of Philadelphia, PA; and Timothy Ford of Newton, MA, and excited about the births of their children as they started to come along.

Diane was passionate about organizations supporting the arts, women’s rights, the environment, and children and youth. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Finca International, https://finca.org/. The family plans a small private gathering in 2022 to spread her ashes on her beloved Whidbey Island.

Memories or photos of Diane can be shared on the Keaton’s Mortuary, San Rafael, CA website.