October 1, 1957 – December 22, 2019
DiAnna Lynn Dyer was born to May Nickell Dyer and J.B.Dyer on October 1, 1957 in Cleburne, Texas. Her family included four older sisters and one older brother. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents and sisters: Sonya May Marr and Dorothy Ledbetter Lane. DiAnna is survived by her sisters and their spouses: Ronda and Charlie McIlvain of Kerrville, Texas and Lynda and Barney Ballard of Dublin and Burleson, Texas and her brother, Jim Dyer and wife, Judy of Tomball, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews. Her wish to be cremated was handled by The Neptune Society after her death at her home in the Clairette Community in Hico, Texas on December 22, 2019 at the age of 62.
In celebration of her life a memorial service will be held at 11 o’clock a.m. at The Bible Church in Clairette with a family visitation and lunch at the Clairette Baptist Church at 12 o’clock noon.
DiAnna lived her pre-school years in Cleburne before moving to the farm in Alvarado. She attended Joshua schools and graduated from Joshua High School in 1976. The student, DiAnna Dyer, was involved in the Drama Club, the Spanish Club, Journalism Newspaper Staff and Yearbook Staff and the Cheerleading Squad serving as both Cheerleader and mascot. After high school she attended the North Campus of Tarrant County Junior College majoring in Journalism and Drama. DiAnna performed in a number of plays on campus; two of which included “The Woodland Fairies” and “The Princess and the Pea.”
DiAnna tried her hand at a number of occupations during her teens and early twenties. She was Manager, Instructor and Trainer at the Magic Mirror in Cleburne; she worked at the Cleburne House Restaurant dressing up in period costumes; and The Pizza Inn in Midlothian with her neighbor and friend, Brian Gentry; also waitressing at The Front Porch in Fort Worth. Her favorite occupation was working as a sales woman at Neiman Marcus in Dallas usually focusing on cosmetics and fashion accessories. DiAnna knew every fashion designer and their logo in the early ‘80’s. A special highlight of her sales career was meeting a top fashion designer, Calvin Klein. She had her picture made with him giving her a signed bottle of his Obsession perfume. While living at Lake Ray Hubbard on Cha-Ha Road DiAnna experienced a number of adventures and endeavors in Dallas, Texas. DiAnna danced throughout her life and once modeled for a lingerie company catalogue. The catalogue, not DiAnna, was advertised in Hustler Magazine with a picture maybe of 1 inch by 2 inches in the ad section of the magazine. DiAnna not only loved to dance, she loved to drive. And with each car she drove there were stories that could be shared among her family and friends. She enjoyed driving small cars; one of the first vehicles she drove included a little midget car then she moved to a 1978 white T-top Sting Ray Corvette also known as the “Charlie Car.” While swatting a fruit fly in the car she lost control and the car flew through the air and flipped several times. DiAnna had to have a plate and screws placed in her left ankle since the wreck had crushed her foot. Another memorable car was the Audi. The numerous cars throughout her life usually ended in a mishap sometimes barely escaping it with her life.
In or about 1982 Dianna was married to Jack Wadsworth at the Buell Baptist Church in Alvarado; three of her sisters, Ronda, Dorothy and Lynda were her bridesmaids. She arrived at the country church in a horse drawn wagon and after the ceremony she and her husband, Jack, were driven to Ronda’s home in Alvarado for the reception. It was a picture perfect wedding. DiAnna later divorced Jack under fearful circumstances requiring her immediate hospitalization in Fort Worth.
After being single for several years, Mrs. Wadsworth married Gene Buckelew. She and Gene moved to Yellville, Arkansas in 1989. Many of her family members visited her there as she continued taking college classes in journalism. She was often published in the newspapers of Yellville and Mountain Home, the Baxter Bulletin, and the Mountaineer Echo. In Texas, DiAnna Wadsworth-Buckelew was an Editor for Scene Zine in Waco and wrote for The Cleburne Eagle News. DiAnna won numerous awards for her editorials and her photography. One award was for her photography of a local air show in Arkansas. DiAnna was an expert shot; her interest in target practice also won her an award in the annual Turkey Shoot in Arkansas.
DiAnna and her husband, Gene, lived above an antique store in downtown Yellville. DiAnna became more interested and knowledgeable of antiques, collectibles and vintage clothing and jewelry. DiAnna had a true appreciation of antiques and furnished her homes with them as she moved from one location to the next. Be sure, DiAnna never moved herself, but always had someone else make the move for her. Later, she and Gene moved back to Texas to Kopperl then Waco where they operated a lingerie store. After she and Gene separated, DiAnna opened “Heart Throbs Lingerie” in downtown Waco where she profited as a natural born salesperson and business owner. She lived in the small closet at the back of the store for several months before her illnesses again forced her into hospitalization.
DiAnna Wadsworth Buckalew divorced Gene and moved back to the cabin at Indian Lodge in Kopperl, Texas. She named her abode the “Lilly Cot.” By this time she had lost both of her parents, her mother in 1984 and her father in 1989. But she loved living near the Brazos River with numerous friends and neighbors. DiAnna Wadsworth always made friends easily and thrived in this relaxed environment. She again started a new business, “The Rocky Top Jet Ski Rental.” Ms. Wadsworth did well at her Brazos River home until she began having seizures. After a serious seizure and an episode of hospitalization she moved to the Clairette community in Hico, Texas to be closer to her sister, Lynda.
DiAnna lived the last 9 years of her life in the Clairette community again making numerous friends. One of her close friends, Bill Tapp, preceded her in death. Other close friends were Brenda and Pat Christian with whom she shared daily phone conversations and Wednesday lunches. DiAnna joined the Clairette Club of the Texas Education Extension Association (TEEA) and served as secretary for a number of years again making friends with club members. DiAnna continued her interest in photography and was a member of the Lake Granbury Art Association (LGAA) and Photography Club for a couple of years. She was also a member of the Stephenville Senior Citizen Center and participated in the Monday afternoon oil painting class with Pat Jones and the Water Exercise Class. She also joined the Hico Chapter of TOPS. She remained a member for several years enjoying the fellowship of other members with the highlights of TOPS at conferences and conventions as well as a cruise on the high seas. Ms. Wadsworth’s health slowly declined with her weeks usually filled with doctor appointments. Ms. Wadsworth did suffer a couple of seizures and a stroke during her time in Clairette, but bounced back with a strong will to get better. She was a regular member of the Sunday school class and worship services at The Clairette Bible Church. DiAnna loved every member of the congregation and felt most at home in their fellowship on Sundays. John Trammel, a former minister at The Clairette Bible Church, became her Yatzee game partner when the two of them had time to sit, visit and play Yatzee.
Although plagued with a variety of illnesses, DiAnna’s passing was totally unexpected at the time. She had spent the previous week and Friday, December 20th with her sister Lynda and niece, Tami Ledbetter, Christmas shopping and thoroughly enjoying the holiday season. DiAnna went to be with her Lord on Sunday, December 22, 2019.
Condolences to family members may be sent to the following addresses:
Mrs. Ronda McIlvain, 128 Mesa del Sol, Kerrville, Texas 78028
Mr. Jim Dyer, 23122 Kobs Road, Tomball, Texas 77375
Mrs. Lynda Ballard, Ph.D., 3817 County Road 265, Dublin, Texas 76446
In lieu of flowers the family is asking that you make any monetary contributions to the following Clairette locations:
The Clairette Bible Church, c/o Mrs. Myrna Carpenter, 29953 E. State Hwy 6, Hico, Texas 76457
The Clairette Community Center, c/o Mrs. Mary Lowrey, 1775 PR 1460, Dublin, Texas 76446
The Clairette Baptist Church, c/o Mrs. Mary Helen Lowrey, 1775 PR 1460, Dublin, Texas 76446
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