Ruthie Diane Elliott was born on January 26, 1944, in Marshall, Texas. The daughter of Opal Inez Fields and James H. Fields. She grew up in Marshall, Texas and attended Stephen F. Austin Elementary, West End Elementary, Marshall Junior High School and graduated from Marshall Senior High School in 1962. She attended East Texas Baptist College and Texas Tech.

She met her husband Jim, in the first grade and they were married in 1966 - a union that lasted over 59 years. Their son Ken was born in 1969.

Diane loved all animals and riding her horses, Manny and Clancy – she was an excellent equestrian. She had a deep love of music and the theater. She danced in the aisles to Buddy Holly in London, made regular trips to New York City with Jim to catch the latest Broadway shows and played the clarinet in the Marshall Senior High School band as well as the piano. Diane also was a great artist who studied art at SMU and had a passion for drawing that continued throughout her life.

She also loved sports – she was a twirler in high school, the Texas Longhorns were her favorite football team, and golf was a favorite pastime – although truth be told she had more fun driving the golf cart with Jim than actually playing the game.

She absolutely loved Dr. Pepper, but it had to be the real thing with cane sugar. Every day at 10a.m. - she would have one in her hand.

Diane passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 9th, surrounded by her family after a long illness.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Elliott; her son, Ken Elliott; her daughter-in-law, Alexandra Elliott; her grandchildren, Carter Elliott and Hayden Elliott; her sister, Barbara Hilburn; cousins, Barbara Ramsey, Judy Litsenberg, Jane Brinkman, Randy Crocker, Kay Eubanks, Kathy Bratz, Blake Hightower and Johnny Hightower.

She was preceded in death by her father, James H. Fields; mother, Opal Inez Fields; uncle, Leo Hightower; aunt, Billie Hightower; uncle, JL Hightower; uncle, John Wood; aunt, Faye Wood; uncle, John T. Ramsey; aunt, Ruby Ramsey; uncle, Luther Crocker; aunt, Anna Lou Crocker and cousin, David Hightower.

Visitation will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, September 12, 2025, at Downs Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Algoma North Cemetery in Marshall, Texas.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her honor to MD Anderson.