Diane Kizzia Daniel of McKinney, Texas, and a long-time resident of Plano, Texas, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her devoted husband of 57 years and her two daughters, on January 30, 2025, at the age of 80.
Diane was born in Richmond, Virginia, on January 17, 1945, the youngest of four daughters of Clark Vernon Kizzia and Jewel (Arnett) Kizzia. Shortly after her birth, her father received a promotion with the General Foods Corporation and the family moved to New York. As a young girl, Diane loved sledding and ice skating on the frozen pond in front of their home in Westchester County, only stopping when called in for dinner. She enjoyed trips into the city and once appeared in the Peanut Gallery on the Howdy Doody Show. Her Summers were spent as a camp counselor, teaching young girls from the inner city how to paddle a canoe. Eventually, her family settled in the beautiful town of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, where Diane spent a happy childhood full of fun and freedom. While her mother renovated their home on Laurel Hill Road, Diane got busy competing in every sport, winning medals at swim meets in the lake, becoming a member of the Twirling Squad, and playing clarinet in the Concert Band. She was named ‘Best Dressed,” in the process setting a standard she upheld throughout her life. Diane made many lifelong friendships in high school, and even after moving to Texas, she stayed in touch with her high school friends from the northeast, frequently traveling back for happy reunions and fun times with her closest girlfriends.
After graduating from Mountain Lakes High School in 1963, she dutifully adhered to her father Clark’s directive that his daughters should attend good southern schools and enrolled at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She became a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, where served as the chapter’s Sports Chairman. She graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. While at SMU, Diane forged many close friendships and relationships that would last her lifetime. But the most important of these would be with Curtis Thompson “Tom” Daniel. Their courtship began when friends arranged a blind date and ended when Tom sold his sailboat to buy an engagement ring. They married in Tryon, North Carolina, on May 27, 1967—just one week after Diane’s graduation from SMU—and spent 57 wonderful years building a memorable life and a beautiful family with their two daughters, Jennifer and Julie.
Upon graduation from SMU, Diane started a career as a social worker working for Callier Speech and Hearing (now Callier Center for Communication Disorders), as well as MHMR. When Diane and Tom started a family, they moved to the then small Dallas suburb of Plano in 1973 and she dedicated herself to making a happy home for her family. Once her daughters started attending school, she played competitive tennis with her friends on the Plano Racquets and eventually at Spring Park Racquet Club. She was so dedicated to her sport that in the summer of 1980, she refused to cancel a match despite 113-degree heat and won her match against the club champion. As a young wife and mother, she devoted her time to her daughters as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and Sunday School teacher and supported their every activity, encouraging and cheering them on at countless swim meets, soccer games, softball, tennis lessons, band concerts, drill team tryouts and performances. She was the epitome of the hardworking working mother balancing it all and always giving generously of herself.
But she truly made her mark in the world of residential real estate. After becoming a Texas Realtor in 1980, Diane quickly rose to the top of the industry. She joined Lou Smith Realtors in Plano and was consistently ranked among the most productive Realtors in North Texas (and indeed, all of Texas), and more importantly, enjoyed unanimous respect from her peers and contemporaries in the industry.
In 1987, the Dallas Builders’ Association recognized Diane with the McSam Award for Outstanding Realtor of the Year. As Plano grew from a small town into the vibrant community that it is today, Diane was involved at every step, helping countless families buy and sell homes in North Texas. But it was always much more than transactions closed, awards, and statistics—Diane was a caring and trusted advisor who always went the extra mile for her loyal clients, even going so far as to bail one unfortunate homeowner out of jail so that she could attend the closing of her property. In 1995, Diane was joined in the business by her husband Tom and daughter, Jennifer. As a trio, The Daniel Team became one of the top-ranked RE/MAX teams in the State of Texas, the nation, and indeed, worldwide. Diane had an encyclopedic knowledge of the neighborhoods and communities she served. In conversations over a glass of wine with friends or family, she might modestly acknowledge that she may have, at one point or another, “probably sold most of the homes” in a given neighborhood. She was modest. In many cases, she had. Her work ethic and integrity in business and in life were unmatched and she set the bar high. Her clients were loyal, and she considered them friends.
In her spare time, Diane enjoyed traveling with her family and friends. She once danced the Macarena atop the Great Wall of China with Jennifer, and her annual extended visits to Hawaii with Tom were a particular source of joy. When she and Tom took up golf, she mastered that pursuit as she did so many other things, quickly becoming an ace on the links and twice notching holes-in-one. Diane made many treasured friendships in her Prestonwood Women’s Golf Association that she cherished until the end of her days. But as much as she enjoyed travel and golf, she received the most fulfillment from spending time with her friends and family, enjoying good food and wine, and sharing a lifetime of wonderful stories while building new memories for all in her presence. A holiday or birthday dinner with Diane and Tom was always a highly anticipated event for her family. In this, as with all things, Diane provided her daughters and grandchildren with a sterling example of strength, persistence in the face of adversity, warmth and grace. She shared her fun sense of humor and radiant smile freely; she was loved by many.
Diane was a proud member of the Methodist faith, and her strong belief in the power of family and community was evident in all aspects of her life. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. Diane is fondly remembered and will be dearly missed by all who will carry her memory in their hearts forever.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, Tom Daniel of McKinney, Texas; daughters, Jennifer Daniel Milligan (Kelly) of Plano, Texas, and Julie Butler (Joe) of Frisco, Texas; grandchildren, Brooks Butler (Hannah), Parker Butler, Hunter Butler, Mary Kate Milligan, Carter Butler, Ginger Milligan, and Jack Milligan; sister Tricia Landen (Robert) of Williamsburg, Virginia; several nieces and nephews; and many other loving family members and friends.
Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Clark and Jewel Kizzia; sister Nancy White; and sister, Arnett Bromell.
The family will host a visitation on Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. The funeral service will take place at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 6, 2025, at the funeral chapel. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Diane’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/diane-kizzia-daniel. The recorded live stream will be available for later viewing using the same link. Following the service, a procession will make its way to Ridgeview Memorial Park for a committal ceremony. Following the committal service, friends and family are invited to share memories and fellowship at a Celebration of Diane’s Life at Touchmark at Emerald Lake in McKinney at 350 S. Hardin Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Diane Daniel to Parkinson Voice Project in Richardson: https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/donate.