Diane Kay (Tukua) Ball

It is with great sadness that the family of Diane Kay (Tukua) Ball announce her passing on Tuesday February 18, 2020 in San Antonio, TX at the age of 73 after a yearlong courageous fight against AML Leukemia. Diagnosed with the most aggressive form of this disease and the most unfavorable markers/odds, Diane amazed her care team as she tolerated the treatment with few side effects and positive attitude. She reached remission and survived a successful bone marrow transplant that allowed her to live her best life including being able to attend her 55th high school class reunion and cheer on her grandchildren doing their various activities which was her favorite pastime. We want to thank her care team Dr John Renshaw @ Texas Oncology and Dr Paul Shaughnessy with Dr Zoghi & Dr Choa along with Alyssa, Andrea & Susan @ Methodist Bone Marrow Transplant Center as well as Dr Ellis @ VITAS Hospice and all the nurses & staff from Methodist hospital who cared for Diane. We also want to thank her bone marrow donor, a 24 year old male from Germany.

Diane, proud of her Norwegian heritage, was born in Long Beach, California where she grew up in a loving home with her parents, older sister & 2 younger brothers. Diane was very active & loved playing sports, so she was very disappointed that at the time there were few opportunities to participate in organized sports for girls. During her life she played softball and pickleball well into her adult years. She loved taking her youngest brother on her bike to the park to play ball. Her favorite teams were the KC Royals baseball & KU Jayhawks basketball. Diane was a gifted student who valued education. She graduated from Poly High School in 1964 as a member of the Zayn service sorority. Then she attended Long Beach City College and graduated in 1968 from California State University Long Beach. She was described as full of joy with an lovable laugh, who took an interest in others and had a “can do” attitude. Using these gifts, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in social work. She worked as a social worker in tough California neighborhoods including Compton until she married in 1971 then dedicated her life to raising her family. During this time she served as a foster parent to over 100 children in need including Tony who was made a permanent part of the family. In addition to California, she lived in Alaska, Missouri, Arizona, Kansas and Texas. After her children were grown, she bravely re-entered the work force working her way up from a bus aide to teacher in the Tolleson Arizona school district. Later she worked as a Arizona state social worker while she helped care for her granddaughter Rosalyn. In 2012 she moved to Kansas to help care for her grandson Wyatt which allowed for them to form a tight bond while also working in the local school district. Then in 2015 she retired and moved to live near her 3 Texas grandchildren. Diane was so very proud of all her children and never missed any of their sports or music events until her health prevented her to do so. She was genuinely interested in getting to know others and could out talk anyone making friends easily. One of her favorite things to do was to try to match up single people, she was actually trying to do this for one of her doctors at the time she could last speak.

Diane was called home to be with the Lord, as she was a strong woman of Lutheran faith. She is now joyfully reunited in heaven with her parents, Robert Sr and Doris Tukua. She is survived by her children Dr Leslee Ball-Scovel of San Antonio TX, Kellee Ball of Kansas City KS, Timothy (Raegan) Ball of Lake Ozark MO and Tony Andrews of Goodyear AZ. Grandchildren Carissa (15), Lauren (14) & James Scovel (11); Wyatt Sluder (14); Rosalyn (12), Adrienne (8) & Tyler Ball (5). Brothers Robert (Janice) Tukua & Phil (Mary Jane) Tukua and sister Bonnie (Jerry) Galbreath all of southern California. Diane is also survived by her nieces & nephews Dana, Shawn, Heather, Ryan, Julie, Corey & Elizabeth and many other loving relatives and friends.

Following her wishes there will be no funeral service, instead a celebration of life party will be held in Diane’s honor June 5, 2020 12-2:30pm.

Location: Old Ranch Country Club

3901 Lampson Ave

Seal Beach CA 90740

**RSVP [email protected]

She will be buried at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 South Western Ave, Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275 located near her parents.

If you would like to donate to a charity in Diane’s honor please donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate or join the bone marrow donation registry at https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/join-the-marrow-registry/