Diane Burbey Dersham passed away January 18, 2022 in McKinney, Texas, at the age of 54. She was born on August 30, 1967, to Barbara Ann (Morrow) and Ralph Dolph Burbey in Dallas, Texas. Diane was a very proud Texan and the only one in the immediate family that could claim to be a true Texan. The family is a direct descendent of Barbara and Adolph Frick who left Zurich, Switzerland to settle the La Reunion Colony in Dallas in 1855. Diane had a passion for the family genealogy and history. She enjoyed tracing the family roots to Texas and Wisconsin on the 23andme and sharing it with family.
Being an Air Force brat, she moved several times at a young age. That and being the 5th out of 6 children, helped to toughen her up. She would not take anything from anybody. It served her well, and she enjoyed heated but civil debates. Diane had an incredibly detailed memory and loved reveling in old family stories in which the rest of us had forgotten the specifics.
She wasn’t but a year old when we moved to Ohio and 3 when we moved to Nebraska. She was 7 when we returned to Texas. She played soccer, softball and took dance lessons. She also played clarinet in middle school. She graduated from JJ Pearce High School (1985) in Richardson.
Listening to music, especially the Beatles, was a lifelong passion. She loved people and would surround herself with a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Diane was the consummate Dallas sports fan: Rangers, Mavericks, Stars and especially the Dallas Cowboys. Drew Pearson was her all-time favorite. She will be watching closely from Heaven to make sure that they get back to the Superbowl. Unfortunately, she won’t be here to see them return to the Superbowl. Diane raised 2 beautiful sons, Carl and Scott Harvey and married Paul in 2011. An animal advocate, she adopted 2 dogs. Always having an interest in the medical field, she became certified as a med tech and worked for a podiatrist. Diane handled her oral cancer diagnosis inspirationally, keeping her trademark smile, sense of humor and positive attitude.
She is survived by her husband, Paul Dersham of McKinney, Texas; sons, Carl and Scott Harvey of McKinney, Texas; mother, Barbara Burbey of Dallas, Texas; brother, John Burbey and wife, Kim of Mansfield, Texas; sister, Elizabeth Burbey of Allen, Texas; sister, Maureen Beam and husband, Edward of Plano, Texas; brother, Mike Burbey of McKinney, Texas; brother, Tim Burbey and wife, Carrie of Glastonbury, Connecticut; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of other loving family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Burbey.
A remembrance gathering will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North in Allen, Texas.