Diane Lochaby, 81, a long-time resident of South Whidbey, died at Maple Ridge Assisted Living on July 9, 2018. She joins her husband, Charrison, who passed in February 2016.
Diane was born Aug. 12, 1936, in Juneau, Alaska. She grew up in Kirkland, Wash., graduating from Lake Washington High School. Pursuing her destiny to teach as a 5-year-old, her first students were chickens that she attempted to teach to swim. She later graduated from Western Washington University with a teaching degree.
Diane taught high school and middle school in the South Whidbey School district from 1967 until her retirement in the early ‘90s. She loved the Island and rarely felt the need to wander off of it. She was a long-time quilter and antique collector. She spent hours hand-crafting Santa Clauses, teddy bears, Christmas ornaments, clothespin dolls and so much more for many years. She was an avid reader and researched genealogy of close and distant family for 25 years. She had a particular fondness for cats and was always owned by at least one until the last month of her life.
Diane married Charrison Lochaby in 1970 and they made their home on Wilkinson Road for 46 years. Both made many connections in the South Whidbey community through fraternal organizations such Eastern Star, Masons and Toastmasters, and through their professional connections. Diane touched the lives of many students for years through the school system and Charrison as the local Puget Power branch manager. They were a vibrant team.
A highlight of her life was her trip to Finland with her mother, Lydia Maki, and her aunt.
She is survived by her brother Paul Maki; her sons, Eric Solene and Carl Solene, and daughter, Snova Parish; grandsons Alexander Brumley, Aaron (Joanna) Smith, Elliot (Yuridia) Smith; granddaughters Lynell Solene, Lauren Solene, and Maya Parish (Kyle Dash). She is also survived by two great-granddaughters, Tenakee Smith and Katijana Smith and three great-grandsons, Lincoln Smith, Avery Smith and Charrison Dash.
At her request, no services are planned.
