Diane Watrous
Jenkins
11/14/35 ~ 3/19/10
Diane Watrous Jenkins passed quietly to the next world on March 19, due to complications from Parkinson's disease. She was born in Los Angeles, CA to Mervyn Reynolds Watrous and Maryan Young Lambert. She attended Brigham Young University where she fell in love with Reed Berry Jenkins from Pendleton, OR. They were sealed for time and eternity in the Mesa, AZ Temple on Sept. 9, 1955.
As a long time resident of Cameron Park, CA, she became a fixture in the local business community as the instructor of Business Education for the El Dorado County Regional Occupational Program. She taught hundreds of students over her 20 year career and retired in 1993.
Diane was an extraordinary woman with many talents. She played the violin, guitar, and piano. She had a tremendous singing voice and conducted the music and choir in every ward she lived in. She is well known for utilizing her many talents as Producer of LDS sponsored community productions of Broadway shows such as Oklahoma! and the Sound of
Music.
She had excellent organization skills and served in numerous leadership positions in the Relief Society, the Primary and the Young Women's Organization. She was regularly asked to use her teaching talents, including serving as Gospel Doctrine instructor.
She was active her whole life. A special love developed for skiing-which Reed taught her in college. She became an avid skier and shared that love with her entire family and grandchildren. Some of the family's greatest memories came from the slopes of Mammoth Mtn, Lake Tahoe, and Utah. She loved to travel and was fortunate to have visited over 70 countries and
territories.
Perhaps her greatest love and service was serving a mission with Reed for the LDS Church in Singapore. They lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and in Taxila, Pakistan. As a member of the District Presidency, Reed traveled with Diane all over the country training missionaries and local congregations. Even though she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at this time, she chose to remain and faithfully serve the remainder of their mission term.
Unable to serve additional full-time missions, she and Reed served two consecutive Church Service missions. They developed and presented training courses for youth and young adults to build job-hunting skills. They presented these courses throughout the Northern California area.
She and Reed moved to Alpine, UT in 2006. As her health started to deteriorate, many loving new friends helped her and Reed through this difficult time. The Alpine 5th ward was tremendous in their service and support. The family especially wants to thank the Angels from Hearts for Hospice for their loving and Christ-like care.
Diane is survived by her eternal companion Reed, daughters Sheri Barbour (Rod) and Tammy Martin (Tony), her son Barry (Sara), 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Diane will be held Friday, March 26, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Alpine Stake Center Chapel at 98 East Canyon Crest Road, Alpine, Utah. Family and friends may call Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah and an additional viewing at the church on Friday morning from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Alpine City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation or the Utah Hearts for Hospice.