Obituary

Dr. Diana L. Jones passed away from complications from peritonitis and cancer treatment on Monday, September 21, 2015. She was an associate professor in the Human Services program in Woodring College at Western Washington University and had been recently named the new director of the Human Services program. She was the beloved daughter of Gerald and Evelyn Jones of Otter Lake, Michigan, the sister of Denise Ingham of Oxford, MI and Stephen Jones of Clio, MI and the dear partner of Vicki Hsueh of Bellingham, WA. She was preceded by her late brother, Greg Jones, and her late baby sister, Teresa. She also had ten nieces and nephews and five grand-nieces and -nephews who were incredibly close to her heart.

She had a reflective, fun-loving, adventurous, and empathetic spirit in her life, scholarship, and teaching. She received a Ph.D. in Community Research and Action from Vanderbilt University, a M.T.S. in Theology from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, a M.A. in Sociology from Emory University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Adrian College.

She had a deep and wide community of family and friends with whom she loved to travel, explore, take long walks, debate, share, and laugh. She was kind and humble, compassionate and wise, sweet and fun-loving. She loved to go on any roadtrip. She relished the chance to discuss books, film, and television. She loved games and puzzles. She cared deeply about spending time with her family, friends, and dogs, and was a great listener, thinker, and advocate.

She had just enjoyed a wonderful summer. Her cancer had been in remission for close to three years and she went on a fantastic roadtrip to Michigan to spend time with her family, going on walks, having bbqs, riding bikes, and catching up on everything, small and large. Few things made her happier than sitting out in the sun, spending time with the people that she loved. We were lucky to have had such an amazing time with her. She had the most beautiful smile, the warmest spirit, the most joyous soul. We loved her very much.

There will be a formal service in Michigan for Diana on October 24th, 2015. There will also be a more informal service in Bellingham for Diana’s friends and family in the next couple of weeks. Information on that event will be forthcoming and we warmly welcome all of her students, colleagues, and friends.

In the last month, she was thrilled that her close friend Cassie Lee Baker and her daughter, Julia, were setting up a Light the Night team in Seattle in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She had wanted very much to support Cassie and Julia and all the Light the Night walkers. If you are interested in making a donation on Diana’s behalf to Light the Night and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, please check here: http://pages.lightthenight.org/ntx/Plano15/JLee.