Diana Lucy Rider, 64, was called home on June 16th, 2023 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Diana was born on November 18th, 1958 in Longview, Texas to Mary Rawls and Gerald McCollum.

In 1978, Diana met Charles "Chuck" Rider through the Masters Muppets puppet team at LeTourneau University. Diana and Chuck married in 1980 and had two children, Travis and Matthew.

Diana continued participating in and leading puppet teams around the country, performing for churches, missions groups, prisons, hospitals, and schools until 1994.

Diana spent much of her free time reading, gardening, crafting, and watching movies. Her favorite place was the beach, especially in Hawaii (perhaps due to the lack of snakes, as she was quite terrified of them).

A devout Christian her whole life, she was a kind and loving soul, winning the hearts of everyone she met. She welcomed others into her family as though they had always been part of it. Her hospitality particularly thrived around the holidays, when she filled her home with festive decor, delicious food, and good cheer.

Diana was predeceased by her father, Gerald. She is survived by her mother, Mary, her step-mother, Jeannie, her husband, Chuck, and both of her sons.

Services will be held at Mulkey-Bowles Montgomery Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 21st, 2023 at 2:00 PM CDT.