Diane Marie Childress
Diane Marie Childress, born Martin Douglas Childress in Olney, Illinois on July 22, 1951 to ML Childress and June Marie Shearer Childress. She grew up in Carmi, Illinois as the youngest of four siblings; Wallace Dale Childress, Gary Wayne Childress, and Constance Marie Leonard. She spent her childhood playing outside with her siblings till after dark, playing baseball for the Carmi Times, going to the library, and working at her mom’s record store, The Record Rack. This inspired a lifelong love for music and dancing which she passed down to both of her children.
She was a very curious person and was always trying to learn as much as she could about the world. She got her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois. In her early twenties she moved to Boulder, CO to work at her brother Gary’s construction company. She loved hiking in the Boulder Mountain Park System and Rocky Mountain National park.
In 1978 she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and shortly after, at a Hallween party, dressed as a clown, she met her future wife Sue Childress. They were married for 20 years and had two children together and a dog named Omni. They loved to laugh, travel, camp and hike together.
In 1999, after years of struggling with her identity, Diane transitioned to become a woman. It was a decision made to become the person she always felt she truly was. It was also a very difficult decision, one she made in the face of the local and national cultural climate. But Diane was brave, and throughout the process of transitioning, despite how hard things got, she showed those around her, especially her children, that it’s important to be your true self. Her true self was an exceptionally strong, kind, and intelligent woman, friend, sibling, aunt, and father.
She read voraciously. Her favorite books being anything sci-fi, spiritual, science based, and historical. She worked for the Department of Labor for 37 years, starting out as the local OSHA lab librarian, and finishing her career as the National Program Manager for Web Services/ OSHA Webmaster and Directorate of Information Technology. She was instrumental in implementing the technological advances that came to OSHA with the 21st Century.
She had the biggest heart and was incredibly selfless and cared deeply for the people around her. She was an amazing Dad and was always there when her children needed her. She is survived by her former wife Susan Childress, Children; Ben and Amy Childress, siblings; Wallace Dale Childress (Barbara) Gary Childress(Debbie), and Constance Marie Leonard (Ron). Along with nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.
A memorial service will be on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City followed by a celebration of life from 3:00 until 5:00 PM. Those unable to attend the memorial service may livestream by returning to this page just before 2:00 pm where a "Watch Service Live" button will appear.
In lieu of flowers we would like people to donate to the Utah Pride Center https://utahpridecenter.org/