Obituary of Mary Diane Kneeland

Mary Diane Kneeland passed away Friday, June 29, 2018 at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. She was born in Mesa, Arizona to David Tollefson Kneeland and Elsie Margaret Smith Kneeland on May 12, 1943. Diane graduated from Irene S. Reed High School in 1961 and received a letter from a Member of Congress, Third District Washington State.

She completed a course in Practical Nursing from Olympia’s St. Peter Hospital on November 15, 1962, followed by completion of the necessary requirements to become an LPN, Licensed Practical Nurse, from the State of Washington on May 27, 1963. She went on to complete a volunteer certificate program for The American Red Cross on December 11, 1969; and become a Licensed Vocational Nurse from the State of Texas on October 31, 1978. 

Diane worked as an LPN in various hospitals around the United States and retired as a nurse from Western State Hospital in 2000. In her final career move in the State of Washington in the Division of Eligibility and Service Delivery, Diane received a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in 2006. She retired from the Division of the Eligibility and Service Delivery in 2008. Diane served 20 years as a dedicated military spouse with her former husband, Jerry Wayne Michael Glasscock.

Diane was a voracious reader and loved a wide range of authors, including JRR Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Terry Brooks, and Vince Flynn. She enjoyed gardening, flags of all kinds, the sound of wind chimes, spending time at the ocean, playing bingo, and drawing. She was an avid player of Pinochle, Spicy Farkel and Fast Track and loved to pounce on her unsuspecting competition. Diane LOVED Disney and specifically Mickey Mouse. Most memorable of all, Diane absolutely loved spending time with her family and friends, and looked forward to her family reunions with her five children and nine grandchildren. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lacey, Washington.

Diane is survived by her five children: Jerry Glasscock (Annette) of Dallas, Texas; Nathen Glasscock (Andrea) of Pleasant Lake, Indiana; Michael Glasscock (Melanie) of Ferndale, Washington; Martin Kneeland (Brit-Simone) of Kirkland, Washington; Jeanine Thurlow (Chris) of Mascoutah Illinois; and her nine grandchildren.

There will be a funeral service on Friday, July 6, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at St. Edwards Catholic Church, 601 West C Street, Shelton, WA 98584.  If you plan to attend, please be there at 10:30 a.m.