Diane Schwarting

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Vallye Diane Harwell Schwarting, 72, passed away on January 24, 2022 at her home and went to be with our Lord. She was born on May 7, 1949, in Hobbs, New Mexico, the daughter of Jay and June Reed Harwell.

Diane graduated with high honors from Hobbs High School in 1967 and from New Mexico State University in 1971 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. While raising her sons, she earned her teacher certification from Missouri Southern State University in 1985 and her Master’s Degree in Education from Missouri State University in 1998.

In high school, Diane was a member of the National Honor Society, played saxophone in the Eagle Pride Marching 100 and Concert and Jazz Bands. She qualified and attended All-State Band her junior and senior years. While attending NMSU, she was a member of SPURS sophomore honorary for women, Las Campanas junior service honorary for women, and was president of Mortar Board, the senior honorary for women. Upon graduation, she was also selected for the Phi Kappa Phi honor.

A loving and compassionate mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, friend and teacher, Diane shared her passion for mathematics with all she encountered throughout her life. She taught mathematics at Joplin Junior High and Joplin High School for 25 years and was the Joplin Schools Mathematics Teaching Specialist for 15 years. She was chosen for the Joplin Chamber of Commerce Golden Apple Award and received several invitations from her students to attend the Missouri Scholar’s Academy at the University of Missouri as an honored teacher. While raising her sons, she was also a Cub Scout Den Leader, home room mother and an active member and officer of PTA’s. After retiring in 2010, she continued to share her love of teaching math by tutoring individual students in the community.

Diane was a devoted Christian. Her true loves, for which she was very grateful, were her God, her family, friends, music, and nature, as well as flower gardening, mathematics and her students.

Surviving Diane are her precious boys and their families: sons Ben Schwarting (wife Kassie), Joplin, MO and their sons Bryce (wife Emily) and Kutler; and Dan (wife Melissa) Schwarting, Cary, NC, and their sons Colin, Alex and Evan. Diane loved being Mom, Ama, granddaughter, daughter, sister and friend. Also surviving are her siblings Jayne (husband Ross) Rademacher of Albuquerque, NM, Jess (wife Judy) Harwell of Cody, WY, Katie (Mando Ortega) Josselyn of Alamogordo, NM and eight nieces and nephews.

Preceding Diane in death, all beloved, are her mother, June Reed Harwell; her father, Jesse B (Jay) Harwell; her maternal grandparents, Virgil and Audie Reed, and her paternal grandparents, Jess and Ida Harwell.

Diane has chosen cremation and wishes to have inurnment next to her mother in Alamogordo, NM.

A family held celebration of life service will be held at Hope City Church on Saturday, January 29, 2022 beginning at 2:00 PM.