Thelma & Bill Diamond

The celebration of two very special lives will take place at Smith Family Chapel, Exeter, Ca, Sept 9, 2023 at 11 A.M. 505 E Pine St. They are Bill G Diamond and Thelma Speir Diamond. Dad went to heaven in 2016 and Mom met her Lord and Savior on July 26th. She had just celebrated her 94th birthday when the lord called her home. Bill and Thelma were married for 68 years, spending the last 24 of those years in Cottonwood, AZ. Dad was born in Ranger, Tx in 1927, and Thelma was born in Murphy, Ok. July 21st, 1929; just before the Great Depression started. As mom always said, there was nothing great about it. But they both wound up in Woodlake, Ca. Dad in 1937 and Mom in 1942. Dad went off to WW2 when he was 17, having to get permission signed by his mother. Mom’s family moved to Woodlake because her two older brothers were also fighting in WW2, and nobody was there to help with the farm. Upon his return, Dad went to Butcher school and eventually bought his own little grocery store-Diamond’s Market. He and Mom worked together until they sold it in 1970. Dad eventually went to work for Harris Beef Ranch, and Mom was a Teachers Aid, at Woodlake High School. But mom didn’t stop there. She was always busy taking wood-shop classes and plumbing! She then took up oil painting, and her favorite; China painting. She also made quilts for the family and worked on the family genealogy. They decided to retire in Az because Dad loved the desert and loved exploring the old ghost towns. They took off in their fifth wheel with their beloved dogs and looked up some of those long lost relatives Mom discovered thru her research. They had lots of adventures together. They were both members of Clarkdale Baptist Church. After Dad passed, Mom decided to move closer to her daughter and son-in-law in Prescott where she spent the last 5 years of her life making very good friends here and in Cottonwood. Surviving Mom are her 2 daughters, Gayle Bearden (Dave), of El Dorado, Hills, Ca, Billie German of Prescott, Az. For grandchildren, Kelli Gilbert (Shane), Blain Bibb, Mike Bearden (Jackie) and Laura Sappington, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great- great -grandchildren, and her beloved nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents, Walter Speir and Edna Lorimor Speir. Her two brothers, Robert and Roger Speir. And her son-in-law, Jim German. Mom was on hospice the last 9 months and had excellent care. And although she only spent her last six weeks of her life at The Landings of Prescott Valley, the people are top notch and she liked it there very much. Both Hospice Compassus and The Landings make you feel like family. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Salvation Army or Samaritan’s purse. Or Hospice Compassus of Prescott Valley. We were very fortunate to have had the parents, grandparents, Bill and Thelma Diamond and we miss them very much. But we will see them again in heaven. And that we know for sure. Arrangements entrusted to Sunrise Funeral Home

Thelma & Bill Diamond

July 21, 1929 - July 26, 2023