Diane Louise Draper

Visitation for Diane Louise Draper, 80, of Copperas Cove will be held at 3pm on Sunday, July 23, 2023 at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove. Burial will be at the Central Texas State Veteran Cemetery on Monday, July 24, 2023 at 10 a.m. Her celebration of life will be following after her burial at 3102 Saint Luke St in Salado.

Diane died on July 10, 2023. She was born on Jan. 21, 1943, in Jackson, Michigan to Bernice Eleanor Garbison and Louis Edward Stack.

Diane married Milton “Dusty” Draper on September 3, 1960 in Jackson, Michigan. They were married for 62 years. She became a military spouse for all of Milton’s career in the Navy and Army. They traveled across the states and country during his years of service and raised a big family. She also was an active member of the NCO Wife Club. In 1978 they settled their roots in Copperas Cove where they spent the remainder of her natural life.

She began her career in the Copperas Cove School District working in the Food Service at the Junior High. Her love for children and cooking was the perfect fit and she made lifelong friends through her career. Diane retired after 26 years.

Diane had a love for golfing, crafting, flowers and her fur babies but most of all her family. She was really the heart of the family and always knew how to bring everyone together through the years. She was the one you could talk to and she would listen and give advice when needed. Anyone that knew Diane knew that she was the most loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and lifelong friend a family could ever ask for.

She is survived by her husband, Milton of Copperas Cove; her daughter, Valentina and husband Jimmy of Aledo; her sons, Milton Eugene and wife Martha of Georgia, Jeffrey of Copperas Cove, Harold of Killeen, Terry and wife Christina of Salado; her brother Greg and wife Janice of Michigan; her grandchildren, Wayne, Andrew, Tiffany, Gloria, Crystal, Tyler, Courtney, Michael, Annabella and 7 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Starlette Kay. May you be enjoying a big cup of coffee with everyone and watching over us.