Diane Jeannette Bailey Allison

Diane Jeannette Bailey Allison January 31, 1948-September 20, 2024

Diane Jeannette Bailey Allison devoted, wife, mother, grandmother and friend went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Friday, September 20, 2024, at The Delaney on Lake Waco.

A Celebration of Diane's Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 5, 2024, in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Waco with Dr. Matt Snowden and Dr. Kenneth Hall officiating. There will be a reception following the service in the Parlor for all in attendance.

Diane was born on January 31, 1948, in San Antonio, Texas to Bessie and Claud Bailey. She attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio graduating in 1966. Following graduation, she enrolled in Baylor University where she met the love of her life, Joel Allison, and the two were married on May 31, 1969. She graduated from Baylor in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. While in Baylor she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. After graduation she and Joel moved to San Antonio where she taught third grade at Randolph Air Force Base while Joel served in the United States Marine Corps and attended graduate school at Trinity University.

In 1972 they moved to Abilene, Texas where Joel began his career in health care administration at Hendrick Medical Center and Diane taught elementary school for two years. While in Abilene, their two sons, Brenton Joel and Blake Andrew were born. Diane was active in her church, Bible study and the Junior League while in Abilene. Joel's career moves led the family to St. Joseph, Missouri, Amarillo, Texas and Corpus Christi, Texas.

While in Corpus Christi, God led Diane and Joel to pursue adoption and were blessed to welcome Celeste Jeannette into our family. After six years in Corpus Christi the family settled in Dallas, Texas for 24 years until Joel retired from Baylor Scott and White Health in 2017. Diane was very active in Park Cities Baptist Church while in Dallas, a sustaining member of the Dallas Junior League and a member of the Lake Highlands Women's League, the Baylor University Women's Council of Dallas and served on the Dean's Council of the Baylor Louise Herrington School of Nursing. She was also an active member of the church's Women's Bible study. When Joel retired it was her wish to move back to Waco and to live downtown in a condo, which she thoroughly enjoyed. They joined First Baptist Church and Diane was an active member of the Adult 5 Sunday School Department and the women's class.

She was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling with family and friends, cooking for family and friends and going to their beach house in Port Aransas, Texas. Diane loved to walk and one of her favorite things to do in Waco was early morning walks downtown and along the Brazos River through Cameron Park. She also enjoyed attending Baylor sporting events with Joel and friends. To her it was more than sports, it was a social event.

Diane was preceded in death by her mother and father.

She is survived by her husband, Joel; her son, Blake and his wife, Amy and their three children Emily, Lily and Reid; her daughter, Celeste; and her son, Brent and his wife Denise and his three children Cade, Libby and Zane and Denise's two children Aden and Austin. She is also survived by her sister-in­ law, Billie Bailey; and her daughter, Beth Staples; sister-in-law, Paula Allison and her two children Greg and Jim Bob; her brother-in-law, John Allison and his wife, Sue and their three children, Amanda, Stephanie and John, Jr.

The family wants to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of The Delaney at Lake Waco, the Interim hospice team and the Visiting Angels, especially Geneva, Alfreda and Sara, all who gave Diane the most compassionate and loving care possible during her long battle with Alzheimer's.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, First Baptist Church Waco, Baylor University, Baylor Scott and White Health System Faith in Action ministry, or the charity of their choice.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Diane on her “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.