Diana (Diane) Rosalie Peterson Searls, 89, was born November 3, 1936, in Altadena,

California and passed away peacefully July 1, 2026, in North Richland Hills, Texas,

surrounded by family and caregivers after suffering through several health problems

over the last few years. Diane was loyal California resident for her first 79 years,

moving to the Fort Worth Texas area after finally fully retiring from a 50-year career as

an Educator. Teaching was a passion and a calling for Diane, second only to her family.

She attended public schools in Altadena including Edison Elementary and Eliot Junior

High School, then graduating from John Muir High School. She then attended and

graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from UCLA, and then later earned a

master’s degree. At the end of her career, she worked as a Mentor Teacher. Her

passion for teaching overflowed into her family life. When her older granddaughters

were in elementary school, she would visit their classrooms as a guest teacher and do a

“lesson” or art project with the class.

Church membership was important to Diane. She grew up attending Westminster

Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, later Sierra Madre United Methodist Church, then

after moving to Texas, City Point United Methodist, and online services of various

churches. Diane was a member of the Job’s Daughters organization as well as Girl

Scouts.

She married her high school sweetheart, Charles Searls Jr in 1957, had three children,

then separated and divorced in the late 70’s. To everyone’s joy they reconciled and

reunited in Texas some 45 years later and enjoyed a loving relationship together for the

last few years of Diane’s life.

Diane had a creative spirit. She loved looking at art and creating her own with painting,

sewing, and her famous ceramic bowls, and lizards; Game playing was another pastime

she enjoyed, especially Bridge. Over the years Diane belonged to many Bridge groups,

usually playing a couple times a week religiously. She also loved playing other card

games and board games. Flowers were another love. Rarely would you find her home

without a vase of fresh flowers along with other plants; She enjoyed taking road trips to

visit friends and family and had the practice of sending postcards from her destinations.

She never wanted to miss a family gathering and frequently showered gifts on people,

especially the young ones. Diane was an avid shopper and had a very generous heart.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Margaret Peterson, and brother

Lorance Peterson and wife Rosalie; She is survived by her one true love, Charles

Searls, daughter Laura Jones and husband H. Leslie Jones, granddaughter Megan

Jones, granddaughter Erin Hackfeld and husband Jesse Hackfeld, great-grandchildren

Jonathan Hackfeld and Abigail Hackfeld; son David Searls and partner Ming Chang,

son Robert Searls and wife Shona Searls, grandson Robert Searls Jr., granddaughter

Madison Searls, grandson Kegan Searls; niece Angela Peterson; brother William

Peterson and wife Sandra Peterson, niece Margaret Murray and husband Brian Murray,

great niece Avery Murray, great nephew Noah, great niece Meredith; niece Victoria

Easter and husband Robert Easter, great-nephew Gavin Easter; several cousins and

many who knew her and loved her as “Nana”.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 11:00 a.m. at City Point United

Methodist Church, 7301 Glenview Dr., Richland Hills, TX 76180 (www.citypointumc.org).

A funeral and memorial service in Southern California will be scheduled at a later date.

Updates will be available on the Church Angels Funeral Home website:

www.churchangelsfuneralhome.org.

Memorial donations in Diane’s name can be made to St Jude Children’s Research

Hospital and Altadena Builds Back Foundation

Heartfelt thanks to Cornerstone Caregiving, Three Oaks Hospice, Heritage House of

Keller, and Holiday Lane Estates Assisted Living for love and care over the last few

months.