Diane Kay (Rees) Loddy was born September 28, 1951 in Council Grove, Kansas to Shirley M. (Burton) and Donald G. Rees. She spent most of her early years in Council Grove, except for 6 years (1960 – 1966) in Freemont, Nebraska. She graduated from Council Grove High School in 1969.
During her adult life she lived in many states (Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana, North Carolina and Virginia) and worked at several different jobs. When she retired she was working for the state of Virginia as manager of an ABC store.
In 1975, she married James Loddy in Denver, CO. They lived in Chama, NM, where they owned and operated Kelly’s Restaurant for several years before divorcing. Upon returning to Council Grove, she worked at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant during its construction. There she met her second husband Royce Harrison, with whom she spent the next 22 years in VA, until he passed away in 2006. For the last 13 years, she and her third husband James Poole have lived in Hayes, VA.
Diane was preceded in death by Royce Harrison, both grandparents, Benton and Elsie Burton and Harry and Anna Rees, father Donald G. Rees, brother Donald W. Rees, aunts Fern Metzger and Bea Wessel, and uncle Carl Metzger, Sr. She is survived by James Poole; her mother Shirley Rees; uncle Henry Wessel; cousins: Barry Wessel (Jill, Carol Spencer (Steve, Keith Wessel (Alicia, Michelle Wessel, Carl Metzger Jr. (Janet, and Sharon Fritch (Frank); step-daughter Nicki Toler (Tim); step-grandchildren Katelin Toler and Kendal Toler.
Diane was a competitor, and brought home many ribbons swimming with the local swim team in her youth. She had artistic talent which was obvious in her home and anything she touched. She was a talented seamstress and liked to cook, producing many fine meals. She was fun to be with. Diane was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. The disease moved quickly to rob her body of normal movement and function. She died February 21, 2020, in Hayes, Virginia.
Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association, in care of Sawyer Funeral Home, Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846. Family will greet friends from 10:00 – 11:00, Wednesday, March 4th, with Memorial Service at 11:00, at Sawyer Funeral Chapel. A private family inurnment will follow at Sunny Slope Cemetery.