Diane Sharon Baldwin

Diane Sharon "Lady Di" Baldwin was born May 14, 1959 in Amsterdam , New York . She was raised by her step-father, Harold Balfour and her mother, Helen (Bushee) Balfour. Diane attended her early education in New York and moved to Oklahoma in 1972 at the age of thirteen. While in Oklahoma she resided in Norman, Noble, and Purcell.
　 　    Diane met Samuel John Baldwin in New York, and shortly after they married they moved to Oklahoma. Upon completion of her GED, through the University of Oklahoma, Diane attended the Moore Norman Technology Center where she obtained certification as an automobile mechanic.　 She was employed immediately by Sears and was the first woman mechanic hired by the company. Diane also worked as a cook for a fraternity at the University of Oklahoma for a while and was also employed at the Lloyd Noble Center in various capacities including setting up for concert venues where she met several celebrities. She was also employed for a couple of years working at a rug factory assisting with the loom operating and was exposed to formaldehyde during this time which affected the remainder of her life.
　 　Sam and Diane moved to Hominy, Oklahoma in 1996. While there the couple purchased land east of Hominy and established a family farm; through much hard work and land clearing.　 Fishing and boating together created fond memories for the couple and their family. They enjoyed trout fishing on Table Rock Lake in Branson and considered this as one of their favorite vacation spots.　
       Diane loved flowers, especially lilacs, wildflowers and roses. She also enjoyed crocheting and made many blankets and scarves for family and friends. She loved cooking and her specialty was spaghetti made from scratch, which everyone loved. She loved animals both domestic and wild and had a special pit bull, Tiny. Her favorite music was country western and the artists she loved most where Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline. She loved all children as her own and was called "Mom" by all of them. She would give the shirt off her back for her children and would sacrifice everything to help her kids.　
       Diane was described by her family and friends as a loving, caring, passionate, generous woman who could be a tad bit stubborn. She could often be quoted saying, "Lord willing and the creek don't rise," in response to questions. She was proud of being the first woman mechanic hired by Sears as well as serving as a home health care provider in the Hominy area for several years.　 She considered the birth of her children and grandchildren as her cherished memories in life and had special memories of her children graduating from high school.　
       Diane passed from this life after a long battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and lung related issues. She passed away at her home near Hominy on July 4, 2015 at the age of fifty-six. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Helen Balfour; husband, Sam Baldwin; and a brother, Joe Cook.
       She is survived by a son and his wife, John Henry and Stormi Doherty of Hominy, Oklahoma; son, Samuel T. Baldwin of Georgia; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Baldwin of Norman, Oklahoma; son, Terry Upshaw and wife Xesca Edith of Skiatook, Oklahoma; son, Donnie (Tank) Reeves of Hominy, Oklahoma; son, Jeremy Smiley of Hominy, Oklahoma; brother, Sherman Skelly of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Summer Nicole Robinson, T. J. Robinson, John Henry,II, Justin Gaige, and Jasmine Rayne Doherty; Henley Rose Reeves, Caleb Baldwin, Daya Baldwin, Roger Munoz, Michael Munoz, and Zackary Goodale; good friends, Suzanne and Greg Billens, Barbara and James Stitcher, Leo Johnson, and Roberta and James Upshaw; and her pit bull, Tiny.