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1941
Diana
2026
Diana Tunnell
July 1, 1941 — April 16, 2026
Edmond, Oklahoma
- Diana (née Douglas) Tunnell was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on July 1, 1941 to Evelyn and
- Herschel Douglas. A 1959 graduate of Northwest Classen High School, she married her high
- school sweetheart, Tom Tunnell, on November 22, 1961. The pair had three children: Tyler
- Lynn, Brook Townsley, and Leigh Gabrielle.
- Diana was a lover, reviver, and connoisseur of the arts. She was deeply passionate about
- classical ballet, working with her longtime friend, Jeanne Ingram, to revitalize the Oklahoma City
- ballet community. She taught at the Ingram Ballet Theater School for over 18 years. She was
- also a community ballet instructor, working to bring the discipline to Piedmont, Oklahoma, where
- she and Tom resided for over 45 years.
- Diana also breathed life into the art scene in Oklahoma City. Diana was a member of many
- Oklahoma and National Arts organizations, including The Oklahoma Watermedia Association,
- The National Watermedia Association, The Oklahoma Art Guild, The Paseo Arts Association,
- The Fiberworks Association of Oklahoma, The Piedmont Library and Cultural Events Society
- (PLACES), and The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. She was known for her abstract use of
- media, passion for all things asymmetrical, and the way she allowed other artists to shine
- through her encouragement of their talent. She instructed various art camps for children around
- the Oklahoma City area and held a 10-year tenure teaching art at the Oklahoma School of
- Science and Mathematics.
- Her award-winning art was honored both locally and nationally by various organizations,
- including:
- The National Watermedia Association
- The Oklahoma Watermedia Association
- Fiberworks
- The Oklahoma Art Guild
- Oklahoma Friendly - The national-juried show of The Oklahoma Art Guild
- Her love for the arts was only second to the love she held for her family. Diana led by example
- in love, kindness, integrity, and zeal. As one who loved to fish, no one could match her level of
- patience. She was one-of-a-kind, a rare human who held no care for if she was wearing
- matching shoes, but all the care for how she made people feel. She could always be seen with
- a smile on her face and usually, acrylic paint on a fingernail or two. Everyone who met Diana
- was delighted to know her. It was a privilege to be loved by her.
- Diana passed away on April 16, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom
- Tunnell, brother, Doug Douglas, parents, Evelyn and Herschel Douglas, and nephew, Dane.
- Diana is survived by her daughters, Tyler Haley, Brook (Ken) Plank, and Gabi (Tommy) Noble.
- She was a proud grandmother and great-grandmother to grandchildren, Hayden (fiancée, Libby
- Herzig) Black, Cooper (Meagan) Black, Addie (Austin) Chappell, Quincy (Paul) Rupnik, Nick
- Noble, Carter (Madison) Noble, Emma Haley, and Griffin Plank, step grandchildren, Meredith
- (Blake) Hamrick and her daughter Vivian, and Mason Haley, and two great-grandchildren, Noah
- Black and Camden Black. She is also survived by brother, Mike Douglas and his children, Blake
- Lower and Cam Douglas, nephew, Craig Douglas and his daughter Jessica Adams, nephew
- Rob (Cynthia) Grindstaff and his daughter Megan, and niece, Nicole Douglas. She is also
- survived by many more nieces, nephews, and cousins.
- She is so loved and will be forever missed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the
- Oklahoma City Ballet or Pets and People Humane Society in Diana’s name.
- A come and go celebration of Diana’s life will be held on Saturday, May 2 from 2-4 p.m. at 129
- Deer Creek Road, Edmond, OK 73012.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Diana Tunnell, please visit our flower store.
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