To Diane Williams McAllister, the entire world was a stage.  An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life.  To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched.  For Diane, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye, and with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions.  Diane really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Diane was born on July 3, 1941 at home in Valley Acres, California.  Her parents were Jerry and Jean Williams and they raised her in South Pasadena, California with her younger sister Carol.

Diane was easygoing and fun loving.  Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Diane was a class "cut-up."  She didn't do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention.  Rather, Diane simply enjoyed others' laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time.  It could be said that for Diane, grades were a very important thing to her, and she really did enjoy her school experience.  Diane graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1959.  She enjoyed some courses more than others, with her favorite classes being literature and psychology.  Diane was awarded the USC Alumni Scholarship, was Girls League president, assistant manager of the student store, yearbook editor, and was a member of the Future Teachers of America.  She earned her Bachelor's degree in Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

At work, as in life, Diane was a real "people person."  She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious.  Her primary occupation was as an English teacher, teaching advanced classes as well as serving as the department chair.  She was employed for 28 years with the Clark County School District.  Diane designed and developed the writing process.  She taught the teachers this innovative educational process that was used district-wide and state-wide and in school districts throughout the country.

Diane enjoyed her leisure time with various hobbies: arts and crafts, golf, crossword puzzles, board and card games, and recreational sports. Her favorite vacations included cruises to Alaska and Hawaii, camping, and trips to the beach.  She was a lover of animals and cherished her pets and her family was rounded out by her cats, dogs, rats, hamsters, rabbits, and peacocks.

Retiring in 2008, Diane remained busy with people and projects, family gatherings, crossword puzzles, and vacations with her husband.  Diane passed away on July 27, 2010 at Spring Valley Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada.  It is believed that she developed a clot that caused heart failure.  She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Mike; children, Kevin, Paul, Kim, and Jeannie; granddaughters, Elyse, Erica, Memory, and Michaela; and great-grandson Tyler; and her sister, Carol (SPHS '63).

Diane brought joy to all of those around her.  She never had a mean bone in her body.  She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things.  She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family.  Diane McAllister lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her.  She will be remembered with a smile.