Dianne Richard

Dianne Sanders Richard, 77, of Fannett died on September 16, 2019, ending her struggle with Alzheimer’s. 

Born August 30, 1942, Dianne lived her entire life in the same town where she was raised by her mother, Blanche Elkins Sanders, and the grandmother she worshipped, Lucille Rose Elkins, both deceased. She is survived by her only son and loyal caregiver, David Lance Richard, whom she absolutely adored; and her grandchildren Tyler, Chloe & Caylee Richard, each of whom she loved “more than the moon, the stars & the universe,” as she told them often. 

After her son graduated from high school, Dianne entered college and graduated with a degree in Education from Lamar University. She taught elementary school in the Hamshire-Fannett School District until retirement, and was known among students, faculty and parents for her great sense of humor and strict classroom conduct requirements. Her former students loved her unique teaching style and warm motherly hugs, and many kept in touch with her as friends over the years. 

Having played high school basketball, she continued to be an avid booster of her school district’s athletic programs, and traveled many a mile to home and away games supporting the teams. She remained a true fan of both college and pro football and basketball, loved nothing more than watching a good game involving a Texas team, and often planned her day around the playoffs schedule on TV. 

Dianne never met a Sweet or Pastry she didn’t like, and she drank lots of coffee. She was well known for her cooking and baking skills, and could recall all of the ingredients and describe in vivid detail the flavors of almost every piece of pie, cake, cookie or homemade candy she ever tasted. She knew all the stops to make on any road trip by the desserts sold in the towns along the way. If she ever cooked a meal or baked one of her fabulous desserts especially for you, you were among the loved and privileged few, and she would remind you of that. 

Throughout her life she loved dancing, gardening, flowers of all kinds, visiting friends, time with family, watching wildlife at her feeders, road trips with her girlfriends, country and soul music, the beach, and any investigative forensics show, the gorier the better. She most certainly loved all of her pets over the years and treated each one like a cherished family member. And Dianne really, really loved sleeping in late and naps. Sleep as long as you like now — you are loved and missed by many. 

Survivors include her son, Lance Richard, of Fannett; grandson, Tyler Richard, of Austin; granddaughters, Chloe and Caylee Richard, both of Lubbock; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

A gathering of Mrs. Richard’s family and friends will begin at 10:00 am, with her funeral service following at 12:00 p.m., Monday, September 23, 2019, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. Her Interment will be at Landrum Cemetery, Highway 124 in Fannett.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue-Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois, 60601.