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Mary Diane Mathis, 83
Mary Diane (Neunaber) Mathis, a longtime resident of Hayden Lake and Rathdrum, Idaho, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at her home on Tattybogle Farm in Rathdrum.
She was born in 1935 in Alton, Ill. Diane received a bachelor of science in nursing from Montana State University in 1956. She married Don Harvey Mathis of Butte, Mont., that year and spent the following four years in Waco, Texas, and Fairbanks, Alaska, where Don was stationed with the U.S. Air Force.
She moved to Idaho with her family in 1962 and settled in Hayden Lake. Diane practiced nursing for the Public Health Service and later at Coeur d’Alene General Hospital. She directed the emerging candy striper program for young volunteers at Kootenai Memorial Hospital for several years.
Diane served as committee chair and president with the League of Women and was active with the Kootenai County Democrats. She was a regular poll-worker and volunteered her time to encourage new voters to participate in the democratic process.
Much thoughtful time was devoted to Diane’s faith communities. In the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, she was active at St. Luke’s Church of Coeur d’Alene as a member of Episcopal Church Women, the United Thank Offering Drive and various guilds. She taught Kerygma Bible Study and children’s Sunday School Classes, volunteered at the Diocesan Offices and served as one of the first nurses for Camp Cross on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Diane was an accomplished fiber artist; much of her needlework is still in use at the church. She was also a co-founder of The Cottage, an artists cooperative in Coeur d’Alene.
Diane returned to academia in the 1990s and received her master’s degree in psychology at Eastern Washington University. She was also a Certified Master Gardener.
Sought out for her knowledge and teaching abilities, Diane was a 4-H leader and taught many classes for children and adults in needlework, ceramics and practical skills. She grew her own garden, preserved her own food, spun her own wool and baked her own bread.
Diane enjoyed music, dancing, singing and the company of her family. She is survived by her four daughters and three sons-in-law: Kris Birdsell, Teri Mathis (Bryan Stuart), Shaun Mathis (Roger Disbrow) and Tobi DeLuca (John DeLuca); and grandsons, Riley, Adam, Zachary and Jack.
Donations in Diane’s memory may be made to Heifer International: www.heifer.org, [email protected].
A memorial will be held at a later time.
Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.