Diane was born on February 8, 1954, to Dorothy Dean Yerton and Acel Henry Taft Jr. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She died November 6, 2021, at the age of sixty-seven at St. Francis Hospital from complications of COVID. Diane was adopted at the age of five by Larry Layman. Diane is the oldest of three sisters. She leaves behind her husband Mike Apple, her mother Dorothy Layman, her daughter LeAnn Shaw, her stepchildren Michelle Johnson, and Jeff Eckhart. Diane loved her grandchildren and will miss all their adventures. Her Grandchildren are Caitlyn and Owen Eckhart, Caden Johnson, Grace and Caleb Shaw. She has two surviving sisters Carrie Woodson and Julie Shupe.

She grew up in Tulsa and always loved Tulsa. She attended Nathan Hale High school graduating in 1972. She married Lee Reese and gave birth to LeAnn all in her senior year of high school. Diane learned from an early age to work hard. She had a passion for clothing all her life. She was known for always being well dressed in the latest designer outfits. She loved helping her friends. She loved attending baby showers and weddings. She would drive all over the US to attend these events. She also loved sports. She loved to attend football games or watch them on TV. She was a wonderful hostess. She was the best shopper and gift giver you ever met.

She went to work for Citgo Petroleum in 1990 and retired this past May as a senior pipeline controller. Diane loved her work. She was one of a few women in this field and enjoyed taking care of the "guys at work" making them meals, making sure they got the right gifts for their spouses and children. She worked every holiday to allow others to be off with their families.

She was not the most physically affectionate person, but she showed her love by making sure everyone received the perfect gift. She was very good and staying connected with friends and family. Many of her friends stated, she would know all their children and grandchildren's names. She would go out of her way to help a friend.

She was a survivor. She was tough. Diane had many losses in her life but managed to overcome them. She was widowed by the age of twenty-one, then lost her biological father when she was twenty-eight. The death of her grandmother Carrie Yerton was extremely hard. She also fought many medical battles and won. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer when she was only 34 years old. She survived two rounds of breast cancer, she also had congestive heart failure, then kidney failure and a kidney transplant 15 years ago. She would face every challenge with strength and determination.

Diane was a member of a lady's bible class at the First Baptist Church in College Station, Texas. When in Tulsa, she attended Boston Ave Methodist Church. She was involved with the downtown Tulsa Lions Club. She was on her reunion committees for year planning Nathan Hale Class Reunions. She loved to throw parties at her home for any special occasion.

She believed in being fair and working hard. She would call you just to chat how your family was doing. She ended every phone call with "anything else"? It became a joke in our family as she would often call several folks to check in on them, just to hear about their world. She loved going to movies and eating out.

She worked for CITGO Petroleum for 30 years before she retired in May 2021. She moved from Texas back to Oklahoma and started a full house remodel. She was always busy. Diane always wanted to look her best and even in her final hospital stay, we found she took her hot rollers to the hospital, just in case she needed to "look good."

Diane married Mike Apple in May 1994. She waited 18 years to remarry after her first husband died to find the right man. She made a home with him even despite living in Texas the past 10 years and commuting back to Tulsa as often as she could. She enjoyed traveling with Mike to visit the grandchildren, attend a wedding or baby shower anywhere in the US.

Diane had great plans for retirement including floating in her swimming pool, traveling to visit the grandchildren and spending time with Mike making memories. Her life was not finished but the Lord called her home, and we are struggling to move on without her.

Funeral services will be at Memorial Park Chapel, 5111 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma on Wednesday November 10, 2021, at 2pm. Please join us in celebrating her life.

Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233