Dian Tyler Willis

Sharon Dian Tyler, better known as Dian Tyler Willis, was born in Abilene, Texas on August 22, 1952. She grew up in the Abilene area, graduating from Cooper High School. She attended Howard Payne University where she studied psychology and sociology. She then transferred to Hardin-Simmons University to complete her BA in 1976, followed by receiving her Registered Nurse certificate in 1979. Dian met her husband of 42 years at Howard Payne and married William Wayne Willis on May 20, 1972. After time away from Abilene due to Wayne's army deployment, the two returned to Abilene to begin a family. In 1980, Tyler Wayne was born, followed by his brother Teddy Robert in 1985. Dian started her nursing career working with new mothers, but after returning to work following Teddy's birth, she wanted a change. For most of the next three decades, she worked the oncology floor, first at Hendrick Medical Center then at Abilene Regional Medical Center. She thrived in this high-stress position and enjoyed caring for cancer patients, often wearing silly socks to bring a smile to everyone around her. She loved nursing, regarding her colleagues as a second family and the oncology floor as a home-away-from-home. She was also very involved with her sons in the Boy Scouts of America. Along with Wayne, she attended TimberTag (Scoutmaster training) and was invited to the national training camp at Philmont, NM. A life-long fan of games, she spent many a night playing with family and friends. Dian thoroughly enjoyed holiday get-togethers with her family, often holding a marathon gaming session in between delicious meals. Dian and Wayne were also very active in church life, teaching 3rd grade Sunday School for many years at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne on December 10, 2014 and her father Robert "Dock" Tyler on June 13, 2009. Dian is survived by sons Tyler of Conroe and Teddy of Abilene, mother Bettye Tyler of Abilene, brother Bob Tyler and his wife Lyn of Abilene, brother-in-law Donnie Willis of San Antonio, sister-in-law Deborah Deel and her husband Michael of San Antonio, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dian loved the Lord, her family, films, television, reading, writing, and her two Dachshunds. Though she was 63 when she died on February 23, 2016, she always said she had to grow old but didn't have to grow up. She was surrounded by the love of family and friends at her passing due to cancer. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. on February 26, 2016 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, with Bro. Jack Ridlehoover, Bro. Stan Allcorn, and Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. The family would like to acknowledge the superlative care provided by the doctors and staff of the Abilene Regional ICU. Thank you for caring for Dian as she cared for so many during her career. Thank you to the many, many colleagues from the oncology floor who expressed their love for Dian. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Boy Scouts of America, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or your church.