ALLEN, Diana

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ February 11, 2011 Diana Mynes Allen Diana Mynes Allen, 49, of Tempe went to be with Jesus surrounded by her loving family, Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, after an 11-year battle with brain cancer. She was born Dec. 10, 1961, to Chester Franklin Mynes and Nancy Jane Edwards in Kirksville Missouri. Diana's early years were spent growing up in Hurricane, W. Va. Diana's family then moved west and she spent second through sixth grade in Whiteriver living on the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation. Eventually the family moved to Pinetop, where she graduated with honors from Blue Ridge High School. Diana later attended Marshal University in WV as well as Arizona State University where she completed a BA and an MA in Education. She participated in the flag corps and marching band at both universities. Diana also worked as a student resident advisor with Arizona State University for several years and was also an active member of sorority during this time. Diana spent a year traveling the world, touring with the musical stage group Up With People (Cast C) in 1983-84. Diana was an active lifetime member of Girl Scouts, Arizona Cactus Pine Council. Diana went on to teach Home Economics for nine years at South Mountain and North High schools. She later went to work for Trader Joe's where she spent another eight years doing food demonstration and artwork until her most recent medical set back. Diana celebrated 22 years of marriage to Hugh Arnold Allen this past April. Diana and Hugh have three beautiful children, Tyler Franklin Allen, 19, Andrea Grace Allen, 17, and Samuel Parker Allen, 15. During their years together the family lived in Phoenix, Tempe, Yorba Linda, Calif. and Alpharetta Ga. Diana enjoyed crafting and sewing but her greatest passion was cooking and all things related to food. She enjoyed traveling, exploring new places and road trips with her family. Diana also had a great love of family genealogy, Hurricane, West Virginia, and walking up the holler of the old family farm, still located there. Diana loved God with all her heart and was a strong Christian witness to everyone that came into her life. Diana and Hugh were also charter members of Foothills Baptist Church located in Phoenix. Diana is survived by her parents, Frank and Hilda Mynes and Ed and Nancy Buell; her loving husband, Hugh; two sons: Tyler and Sam; daughter Andrea; four sisters: Karen, Alice, Kathy and Rebecca; and a slew of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws that love her very much. A memorial service honoring her life and God's grace will be held at Foothills Baptist Church 15450 S. 21st Street in Phoenix, AZ 85048 at 11a.m. Friday, Feb. 11. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Up With People "Diana Mynes Allen - Cast C Memorial Scholarship" Fund. Attn: Development Dept / Laura Matooka, 6830 Broadway, Unit A, Denver CO 80221-2851. Or online at www.upwithpeople.org or National Brain Tumor Society on line at www.braintumor.org. The family has faced an irreplaceable loss with the absence of their loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt and niece. If you felt led, please direct all condolences to: Diana Mynes Allen on line at www.facebook.com Arrangements entrusted to Tempe Mortuary.