A memorial service will be held for Diane Kay Russell Holt on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 11:00 am at Crossroads Methodist Church to celebrate her life.  Thad Carter will officiate the service.

Diane was born July 1, 1942, in Chillicothe, Illinois to Linus Elmer and Mildred Crotz Russell and went to her Heavenly home on February 5, 2025. She graduated from the high school of her hometown and quickly went straight to work to help her family.  It was while working at a little diner in Chillicothe that she met a handsome welder from Texas that was in town working on a pipeline. Even though she stole his heart, he returned to Texas after completing the job.  After telling his Dad about her, all his Dad said was "Well, where is she?". He quickly returned to Illinois and asked that beautiful redheaded girl to be his wife and on December 12, 1960, they were married in the living room of her parents home. She soon hit the road with him and was now officially a pipeliner's wife. Along the way, traveling from job to job, they had 2 daughters (one born in Moses Lake, Washington and one born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) and in 1968 they decided it was time to put down roots and they built their dream home on the 200 acres in East Texas on FM 2625 south of Marshall, TX that was their lil slice of Heaven. It was their home where they lived, loved, raised their girls and spent the rest of their lives.

Diane was the glue of her family. As Bubba's dream of ranching became a reality, she was right by his side. As he was still a pipeliner so, when duty called, (sometimes for months) she stepped up and while raising 2 young daughters, she became ranch manager, cow hand and anything else that kept their home running while Bubba was away. She could manage a herd of cattle, calving heifers, doctoring the sick ones and keeping them fed as well as any man around all with 2 young girls in tow.

Diane loved her community and the people in it that she considered family. Especially her beloved little church, Crossroads Methodist Church.  It was such a vital part of her life. While she loved her family with all her heart, nothing compared to the love & pride she took from being a "Mammie" to her grandkids and her great grands! They were, without a doubt, the light of her life.

While she is missed beyond measure, we all take such peace and comfort that Jesus took her home and she is now healthy, happy and back with her love of 61 years, Bubba and her beautiful eldest daughter, Jackie along with the rest of her family that had gone on before her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim "Bubba" Holt, her eldest daughter, Jacqueline Kay  "Jackie" Holt and her older brother, Roger Russell.

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Ford & husband Scotty. Granddaughters Caylin Fisher & husband Kody, Megan Holt with Guy Vicars, Erin Garcia & husband Willy and Ashley Bond & husband Craig. Grandson Will James Foster.  Great Grandsons Kruz Fisher, Kreed Fisher, Shay Vicars & Sterling Vicars. Great Granddaughters Stella Rose Vicars, Briana Garcia, Gabby Garcia, Olivia Bond & Victoria Bond. Sister-in-law & best friend Eva Holt & husband Tim. And all of her nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, family & friends in Illinois that she loved more than life.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Crossroads Methodist Church.