Dianne Draper

Lynn Dianne (Hurd)Draper, 75, formerly of Larwill, Indiana, passed away peacefully with her family at her side at Family Health West Memory Care in Fruita, Colorado on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Dianne was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on November 4, 1948 to William Max and Doris Jean (Arnold) Hurd, the eldest of four daughters. A graduate of South Whitley High School class of 1967, she attended beauty college in Fort Wayne where she met her future husband, Jim, who at the time was delivering packages for UPS. They married on January 11, 1969, and together they built a life on their family farm north of Larwill, where they raised Appaloosa horses and two children, Stacey and Scott. They lived there for 50 years, creating cherished memories with family, friends, and neighbors.

Dianne was a talented pianist and organist, using her gifts at First Baptist Church in South Whitley where she also helped with the AWANA kids program. She and Jim were active members there for over 40 years. Dianne also volunteered at Lakeland Child Evangelism Ministries in Winona Lake, Indiana for many years. A follower of Jesus Christ, her love for the Lord was strong and she was a persistent prayer warrior for family and friends.

Dianne was a helpmate to Jim in a true sense of the word. They both volunteered in the Whitley County 4-H Horse and Pony program for many years as the club leaders and worked in the announcers stand even after both of their kids were no longer in 4-H. She also faithfully helped Jim with his business, doing the books and taking phone calls. 

Over the years, horses being a major part of the Draper family, they went on many trail rides to Brown County State Park in southern Indiana as well as Salamonie and Mississinewa State Parks. They even traveled as far as Wyoming and Montana in 1988 to ride a 100+ mile stretch of the Nez Perce Indian trail on the Chief Joseph Trail ride, Dianne riding her faithful mount, Pokey. 

Dianne’s life was not always an easy one. Brain surgeries in 1985 and 1988, along with radiation treatments, created challenges for her and the family. She fought through though and continued to care for her family and serve her Lord despite the physical and cognitive struggles that she faced. 

Dianne is survived by her two children, Stacey (Jon) Moore of Cleveland, Utah; her son, Scott W. (Jodi) Draper of Loma, Colorado; grandsons, Jody (Kaila) Mullin of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Garrett Draper and Brady Draper of Loma, Colorado; her great granddaughter, Hazel Mullin of Idaho Falls, Idaho; three younger sisters, Christine (Don) King, Vicky (Steve) Myers and Kathy (Kim) Slater, all of South Whitley, Indiana.

Dianne was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Draper, her mother, Doris Jean Hurd, and her father, Bill Hurd.

There will be a private service for family only at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Grand Junction, CO on December 6, 2024.

Following that there will be a service & dinner for family & friends at True Life Church,

100 Vista Grande Dr, Grand Junction on December 6, 2024 at 4:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life open house will be in Indiana at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for any donations to be directed to: Lakeland Child Evangelism Ministries, P.O. Box 612, Winona Lake, IN or on their website: https://lakelandcem.com