Oakwood, Texas native Diane Atkinson Smart passed away in McKinney, Texas on February 3, 2020 at the age of 80.
She was born in Livingston, Texas on October 26th, 1939, to Arnold and Quinda Atkinson. Diane moved to Oakwood in 1946, when her recently widowed mother married Lester Rozelle, the superintendent of the Oakwood schools, which Diane attended until her graduation. She married her high school sweetheart, Jimmy Smart, shortly thereafter and they had three children - Lisa, Greg and Lynn - before Jimmy was killed in a car accident in 1963. Then Diane enrolled in the East Texas School of nursing to become a licensed vocational nurse. Some years later, she returned to school and graduated as a Registered Nurse. She spent her entire career as a nurse.
Diane is survived by her son, Tom (Greg) Wilson and wife, Suzy; daughters, Lisa Smart Wilson and Lynn Smart Sallee; grandchildren, Casey Rowden Duncan and Chad, Justin Sallee and Bethany, Quinn Wilson Anderson and Brett, Jeremiah Sallee, Kelli Wilson, and Mackenzie Wilson; sister, Janie Ives and husband, Thomas; brother, Ron Rozelle and wife, Karen; six great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
Diane was preceded in death by her mother, father, stepfather, and her grandson, Joe Sallee.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, February 15th at the First Christian Church, 119 North Holly Street, Oakwood, Texas with Reverend Thomas Hill officiating. Diane will be buried in the Oakwood Cemetery beside her first love Jimmy, barely a stone’s throw from the old football field where he was once a star and she was his special cheerleader. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution is invited to consider the SPCA. Diane had a special place in her heart for animals, and two of her devoted companions toward the end of her life were her dog, Daisy and her cat, Sweet Pea.
Diane’s sweet spirit and joyous laugh will be missed by many. She will be always remembered and loved.