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Diana Lee Downing Lynd passed away peacefully on October 30, 2023 surrounded by her family. She was born Jan 2, 1949 in San Angelo, Texas as was her twin and lifelong best friend Paula Korzonek.
Her parents Lloyd and Ruth Ann Downing fostered her love of music from an early age. She was an award-winning soloist in high school. She attended North Texas University where she met the love of her life, Sterling Lynd. They were married on August 22, 1971. Love, respect, kindness and comfort were the pillars of their life together. She shared her values of hard work, caring spirit and selflessness with her two daughters Tara Lynd and Nissa Harrington. Diana worked for many years at Homer Elementary School as a music and art teacher and then as an early childhood teacher. Her creativity and energy were inspiring. She became a Nationally Certified Teacher in 2002 to further her commitment to ensuring the best for her students. After her children had gone to college, she returned to school and got her PhD at The University of Oklahoma, mentoring fellow students during that time as well. Her dissertation was a remarkable work of writing with much of it in verse. She then went to teach at Seminole Junior College to help shape the next generation of early childhood educators. She retired in 2008.
Throughout her life she was a soloist in her church choir and would perform with her daughters, making beautiful music and lifelong memories. During retirement, she also became a part of First United Methodist Church Ada Stephen Ministry. She was happiest surrounded by family and had the opportunity to spend days with her two youngest grandchildren, who were the light of her life.
She is survived by her husband (Sterling), her twin sister (Paula Korzonek) her two daughters (Tara and Nissa) and two sons-in-law (Andy Warren and Marshall Harrington), her niece (Melanie Shaw), and seven grandchildren, Martin, Kate, Carter, David and Madison Warren and Arya and Cash Harrington.
She was happiest spending time with family whether watching crime dramas and sharing a Miller Light with her dear husband after an energetic day of watching a toddler or travelling with the ladies to view art, dance, theater, eat delicious foods and laugh together until crying. She had a passion for the written word which she passed on to both her children and grandchildren. She was always able to see the true beauty in people and was an outstanding example of living with kindness and showing God’s love with a note, song, gently spoken word or her affectionate smile. As written in one of favorite stories, The Velveteen Rabbit, “Once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.” Diana inspired us all to live a Real life and to make memories with those we love every day.
Her memorial service will be November 18 at 10 AM at First Methodist church Ada, OK.
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