Diana Jean Hawkins Gibson, 62, of Bend, Texas passed from this life into our Heavenly Father’s arms February 10, 2025. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2025 at Blaylock Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 14, 2025 at the Church of Christ and will be officiated by Pastor Justin Bell. Interment will take place at Sand Hill Cemetery following the funeral service. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home in San Saba.
Diana was born November 28, 1962 in Brownwood, Texas to Wallace and Imogene Hawkins. Diana was the youngest of 3 and the only girl so she grew up working just like one of the boys. Diana helped run trot lines catching catfish, driving the tractor harvesting wheat on her grandpa’s place in Priddy, Texas and worked picking pecans in the Brownwood orchards, processing chickens with her grandparents and selling eggs, among so many other things. As a young girl, Diana loved riding her horse and even did a little barrel racing at the local rodeos. She always had dachshund dogs and loved to take them coon hunting. Diana was a member of the Brownwood 4-H and FFA and loved showing her Southdown lambs and competing in other contests. She loved to dance and with her best friend Debra, they would go dancing whenever they could and she even taught Debra how to waltz. Diana was a big country music fan and loved anything by Ray Price or Johnny Bush. She graduated Brownwood High School in 1981. Diana was also a master meat processor and obtained her degree in Meat Processing and Accounting from Waco TSTC. She taught her daughters how to process a side of beef, chicken or pork from start to finish. It was a talent she was very proud to pass along to her children.
Diana met the love of her life and best friend at a rodeo dance in San Saba one night in June, 1984 and they hit it off from the start. Diana married Grady Gibson of Bend, Texas on March 15, 1986 and together they teamed up to build the life they have today. She loved going on long truck drives with Grady in their early years hauling grain or livestock from one state to the next, she quickly became his favorite trucking partner. They settled down and had two beautiful daughters, Carol and Brenda, while building from scratch the lively hood they have now. She had the ideas and Grady made those ideas come to life for her, whether it be buying property, building barns or ideas to keep the property afloat, she always had a vision and worked hard to make those dreams a reality. Diana was the perfect partner for Grady as she was there to help run their livestock operation from Angora goats, Southdown sheep, and Dorper sheep to their current Red Angus cattle herd. She helped with the hay operation, running tractors and loading square bales or round. Diana also worked hard to keep the financial records of their business, along with her household duties in addition to gardening, canning, and making sure there was a hot meal on the table. Diana loved to cook, but not from a recipe, she had a talent to re-create anything she tasted and liked. She could tell what ingredients to use and could recreate the perfect meal without going out. She loved home cooked meals and providing that experience for her family. Her favorite meat of choice was pork loin. She would buy in bulk when on sale and any time she could, there would be pork loin on the menu. Diana also had a mind for conservation, making sure their land was productive and had a deep love for the outdoors. She and Grady were very involved with their local Soil and Water Conservation District. Diana was always supporting Grady with going to meetings and helping with the Lady’s axillaries and scholarship program. She was there to assist with meals, crowding kids and clean up at their SWCD association events. In 2010 she was the area award recipient for Conservation Homemaker; this was a high honor for her as she continued her life mission to be the best conservation homemaker she could be.
Diana loved her family immensely and cherished so many family vacations, events, reunions and mainly just sitting out in the evening looking up at the night sky. Diana enjoyed many adventures with not only Grady, but with her daughters as well. She would take them ice skating or roller skating as she did love to roller skate. There were many trips to stock shows as her and Grady enjoyed supporting their children with their show animals from county to major shows. She was never not at a school field trip or function for her girls throughout their school years. PTA, band 4-H, and more, she was always a leader, helper, and mom to every kid. She never met a stranger and every person the kids brought thru the door were immediately family. Later, she welcomed her son in law, Gunner into the family and then granddaughter Lyla Jean who she cherished more than anything. She loved being a GiGi to Lyla and looked forward to each time she was with her. Diana was a family first kind of woman. She was caretaker to her uncle LeeRoy for ten years until his passing last October. Serving others above herself was her motto. She had a servant’s heart and displayed that every day of her life.
Diana enjoyed being a member of the Church of Christ in San Saba, Texas for 35 years. She and Grady raised their daughters to know and love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a Christian woman through and through until her very end.
While the family mourns and grieves at her passing hey have hope in seeing her again in the next life and to forever be reunited.
Diana is survived by her Husband of 40 years Grady Gibson, Daughters Carol Gibson of Bend; Brenda May and Gunner of Earth, Texas; and Jamie Williams and Joshua of Boerne, Texas. Granddaughters Lyla Jean May and Sophie Jo Williams. Brothers Randal Hawkins and Rayma of San Saba, Texas; and Roland Hawkins and Cindy of San Saba, Texas. Nephews Tyler Hawkins and Tasha of Mineral Wells, Texas; Travis Hawkins and Stephanie of Del Rio, Texas; Tanner Hawkins of Fort Worth, Texas; and Josh McCoury and Brooke of Poolville, Texas. Niece Michelle McCoury Lock and Jeremiah of Marble Falls, Texas; Great Niece Logan Lock; Great Nephew Rylyn McCoury. Other family members are LaVada and Greg McCoury, Clovia and Tommy Ketchum, Glen and Cathy Gibson, all of Bend, Texas. Extended family includes John and Carrie Sackett, and Cadie of Stephenville, Texas, along with many other cousins.
Diana is preceded in death by her parents Wallace and Imogene Hawkins.
Donations can be made to the Bend Sand Hill Cemetery or your favorite charity.
Pallbearers: Tyler Hawkins, Travis Hawkins, Tanner Hawkins, Josh McCoury, Gunner May, and Jeremiah Lock.
