Our beloved wife, mother and grandmother Diana Erickson passed away comfortably at home on Wednesday, October 3 after a 20-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Diana was the only daughter of James E. Hicks of Amarillo, TX and Clara (Carothers) Hicks of El Paso, TX. Diana was preceded in death by her parents and her only brother James E. Hicks, Jr. She is survived by her husband and business partner James M. “Jim” Erickson, her four children: Karin, James Jr. (Julie), Kristin Perez (Michael), all of El Paso, and John (Kimberly) of Raleigh, NC, and her five talented grandchildren: James Erickson III, Emily, Seth, and Nathan Perez of El Paso, and Annie Erickson of Raleigh, NC.
Everyone who met Diana will remember her beautiful auburn hair, sparkling green eyes, and her inviting smile; and, everyone who knew her well will miss her concern and care for everyone, her approachability, warmth and kindness, limitless energy, artistic style, and her infectious laugh.
Diana graduated Austin High School in 1964. Following high school she attended the Hotel Dieu School of Nursing. She and Jim were married September 10, 1966 upon his return from Vietnam. While stationed at Fort Hood, TX, she studied nursing at Central Texas College in Killeen, TX. Returning to El Paso, Diana graduated UTEP with a degree in Early Childhood Education, but never taught in a classroom. Instead, she taught her grandchildren by joining them at Sunday Mass and then taking them on innumerable field trips to the El Paso Zoo, the Insights Museum, the Farm and Ranch Museum, and many other venues. While at UTEP, she taught racquetball and routinely beat her male students!
Diana loved El Paso, especially Central El Paso, and was its constant defender and avid proponent. As president of the Five Points Development Assn. she ensured that the Sun Metro Five Points Transit Terminal was named in honor of Robert E. McKee, her childhood neighbor and world renowned general contractor. She also promoted the idea of arches over Piedras Street in Five Points.
Her family would like to thank Dr. Ahmad Hajj, the ICU nursing staff at Las Palmas Hospital, and her private care givers for the wonderful medical and personal care she received near the end of her life.
Visitation will be at Martin Funeral Home, 3839 Montana Ave., on Monday, October 8, 2018 from 5 to 7PM, with a Rosary at 6:30 PM. Funeral Mass will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 9:15 AM followed by internment at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to the American Lung Association.
