Diana Marquez

Diana Marquez, wife, mother, sister, artist, writer, educator, green thumb, animal lover, and lifetime pet owner, died March 13, 2024.

Thoughtful, caring and loving - all the generic words for an obituary - yet she was not generic at all. She was sincere, honest and righteous in her words and ways. She was outspoken and unafraid to do or say the right thing.

Diana L. Ray Marquez was born Feb. 6, 1948, in Portland, Oregon to Gerald and Bernice Ray. She grew up in southern California, graduating from Brea High School in 1966.

While her parents moved to Libby in 1971, she bought a house in Libby in 1985 to have a place closer to her family. 

Diana met her husband, Jerry, in Norco, California in 1975. They were married in 1986 and moved to Riverside, California shortly after, where she worked as an editor and a typesetter for the American Kennel Club and U.S. Government. They introduced their only child, Cara, in 1989.

After moving to Libby in 1999, Diana volunteered her creativity in Cara’s schools. She created a complete stage set for the junior high school’s production of Beauty and the Beast. She also volunteered as a substitute teacher as well as helping with school trips and extracurricular activities.

Diana loved working with children and animals. She volunteered at Kootenai Pets for Life and worked at St. John’s Lutheran Daycare, then later at the Libby Methodist Church daycare until she retired.

Diana’s many friends included crafters and artists where she shared her own unique creations participating in many craft fairs and farmer’s markets. Diana enjoyed her Montana lifestyle which included gardening, canning, crafting, boating and horseback riding. She loved the Libby community and her many friends.

After a brief, sudden illness, Diana peacefully left us on March 13, 2024, in Kalispell, Montana, with her family by her side.

She is survived by her husband Jerry, daughter Cara and three sisters, Marian, Janice and Roxanne.

In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to Kootenai Pets for Life in her name.

Diana loved all animals big and small and we are certain she is now relaxing peacefully with all her four-legged friends.