Diane Gayle Marler, 79, died October 30, 2024 at her home at the reservoir. Visitation will be at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home on Burney Drive in Flowood on Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 10:00am to 12:00pm.  A private burial will follow at a later date.

A native of Jackson and graduate of Provine High School's class of 1963, Diane attended Hinds Jr. College and Mississippi University for Women earning her degree in business education. After teaching high school in Houston, Texas, for seven years, she returned "home", and attended Mississippi College where she earned her masters' degree in business education.

She was then hired as a teacher in Madison County where she taught for 27 years at Madison-Ridgeland High and Madison Central High School, Diane retired in 2003. She was a dedicated teacher.

Retirement opened up a whole new life. She was a member of the Mississippi Track Club, and entered 5K and 10K races all over the country. Diane enjoyed travelling to all the major cities in the U.S. as well as, Paris, Prague, Helsinki, and Stockholm and many other destinations across the globe. As a member of the reservoir YMCA, she made many lasting friendships.

More recently, she became a volunteer at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland arranging flowers weekly for patients. A self-taught balloon twister, Diane started a project named "The Balloon Garden". Through this hobby, she twisted balloon animals, etc., for children at different events and made flower arrangements entirely from hand-twisted balloons.

Her most recent and rewarding endeavor was a service she provided for seniors in the reservoir area taking them to doctor appointments and other places they needed to go.

Diane's love of nature, gardening, crafting, and all things culinary kept her busy as she enjoyed her life on the reservoir.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Inez and John Marler; and sister, Linda Marler Cooper.

Diane is survived by her brother, David Marler (Midge); and nieces, Holly Turner and Megan Marler; nephews,  David Leroy Cooper (LeAnn) and John Marler, III and many friends.