Diane Lucille Oates Nolen

Diane Lucille Oates Nolen was born November 14, 1937 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California to Florence Orzella Marsh and Ernest Oates. Diane is survived by her six daughters; Kenna (Winston) Tripp, Kerry (Jack) Fetherston, Karla (Jerry) Lee, Kristen (Kevin) Canaday, Kelly (Clay) Shubin, Kim (Graham) Allen, 17 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, sister Irene Cattani of Arizona, and Foster brother Ed Wells of California.

Diane was the youngest of 4 children born within 3 1/2 years. Growing up with an older brother and two older sisters in Pasadena, California on Cherry Drive where the kids were not only close in age, but also very a very close knit family. When she was eight years old the family had an unusual opportunity to buy 4 acres at 407 Laguna Road, in Pasadena California. This opened up a whole new world of opportunities for the Oates children. For a year the family lived in the midst of the remodel with no kitchen and only outdoor access to the upstairs bedrooms. This was quite the adventure for the family. They had horses, sheep, a goat, chickens and rabbits. They joined Future Farmers of America, and got the family’s first dog, Flag. They had their own touch of country living right in the heart of the city.

Diane was a tomboy growing up, she rode horses, climbed ropes, built tree houses, and loved sports. She was President of the Girls Athletic Association (GAA) at McKinley Jr. High. She was a cheerleader in junior high and High School as well as actively participated in sports and intermural sports. She was Homecoming and Prom Queen in High School. At BYU she was an attendant to Snow Queen, a ski instructor, and active in her CamiLos social unit. It was at BYU her sophomore year she met the love of her life, Phil. Phil proposed in February 1957, and they were married September 13th, 1957, in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Phil and Diane went on to graduate from BYU in June 1959, where she was 6 months pregnant with Kenna. Diane received her degree in Physical Education and Modern Dance.

Phil took a job in Yuma, Arizona to work construction for his brother and Diane applied for a job at an Elementary school that went through 8th grade. The school board hired her sight unseen, 6 months pregnant for the next school year. They had to make arrangements for her to start a month late, as Kenna was born September 1st, 1959. This was a wonderful experience for her as the school district covered agricultural areas as well as an Indian Reservation. Some of the students came to the school from homes with no running water or electricity. Some of the students smelled of a bonfire all winter because they lived in tar paper shacks on the Colorado River & the bonfire was their only source of heat. This was an eye opener for a city girl. Phil built their first of many homes together in Yuma. They had great fun working and making friends in Yuma, Kerry was born there and they stayed until Phil took a job in California. In 1962 They moved to La Crescenta, California where Phil worked for 3 years and Karla was born here and Diane substitute taught in the Glendale and Pasadena school systems. In 1965 Phil founded Nolen Construction. They moved to Northridge, CA. in 1966 when Diane was pregnant with Kristen, Kelly and Kim were all born.

Diane was a pioneer in the aerobics world, teaching classes choreographed to music at the local parks and recreation and later at the Los Angeles board of education. She enjoyed teaching for over 12 years, continuing when they moved to Littleton, Colorado in 1972.

Diane was not only active in the community, she was a room mother for 12 consecutive years and PTO president at Littleton High School while the girls attended. She started the Green Oaks swim team in 1975 and ran the program for 8 years. All her children and many grandchildren swam for the Green Oaks Gators.

Diane took her passion for dance and education and choreographed road shows and stake musicals as well as 2 musicals at Euclid Junior High. She faithfully served the church in many capacitates including Primary president twice, Young women’s president twice, in 2 Relief society presidencies. She taught primary, Sunday School and young women all while raising 6 daughters . Diane was was the car-pool queen, carting the girls to piano (thank you Audrey Beck), ballet, gymnastics, swim team, soccer and cheerleading events. Diane loved to ski and passed the passion onto the girls, going to Winter Park virtually every Saturday during the season, making sure to get the value out of those season passes.

Diane was very involved with the Colorado Ballet, bringing her passion for the arts to the community. She served as President of Denver Ballet guild, Les Cygnettes, and the Colorado Ballet Auxiliary. She chaired the Central City home tour and not only served on the boards but is a Lifetime Member of Arapahoe House, Families First, The Gathering place, Kemp Foundation, Denver Center Alliance, Children’s Diabetes and The Colorado Ballet Auxiliary. After serving for 23 years on the Colorado Ballet board of Trustees, she was made a lifetime Honorary Trustee.

Diane’s passion for dance and education inspired her to start the Education program at the ballet where inner-city students are brought to a live afternoon performance for a very nominal fee. She ran this program as a volunteer for 10 years until they were finally able to hire a paid education director for the ballet.

Phil and Diane were constant companions and inspired each other to expand their horizons, Phil decided to run marathons, so Diane joined the fun, running 5 marathons in her 40’s and 50’s. They enjoyed riding bikes on world tours with their friends as well as across Iowa for many years. Phil learned to love the ballet and Diane came to appreciate the ranch and round up.

Nothing brought Diane more joy and happiness than being with her children and grandchildren. The grandchildren especially enjoyed their “special day” with grandma Diane for their birthdays and other special events.