In Memory

Diana Baldwin

Diana Baldwin

On Sunday, January 31, 2021, Diana Jo Baldwin, Mom, Grammy and quilter extraordinaire passed away at the age of 72. Diana was raised in Custer, SD and Billings, MT by her parents Ebba and Owen “Pa Bum” Baldwin. Diana graduated high school from Billings Senior H.S. She attended Eastern Montana College earning her bachelor’s in education. Diana married T. Gregory Jones of Bozeman, MT and had the two best kids ever…Kimberly and Brian Jones. Diana taught elementary school in Gillette, WY for many years. Diana relocated to Helena, MT after divorcing Greg. She then began her adventures of moving around the country opening and managing bookstores. Diana lived in Columbia, MO, Belleville, IL, East Brunswick, NJ, Albuquerque, NM, and Sacramento, CA. She moved back home to Montana to be near family in 1997. In 2012, Diana moved to Layton, UT to be near Brian, his wonderful wife Sandy and their rock star daughter Samantha. Diana pursued her love of teaching in Layton, by working as a foster grandparent at Samantha’s elementary school. While serving as a foster grandparent, Diana loved helping the kids with reading. Diana also taught sewing classes for Samantha and her friends. Samantha loved going to Grammy’s to go swimming and visit. Spending time with Samantha was the highlight of her life!

Diana had a love of books, movies and all things fabric. She had a masterful eye in pairing colors with design for intricate quilts that are breathtakingly beautiful. Her love of fabric is evident in the dozens upon dozens of fabric bins she had, that Brian is packing. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she put her sewing skills and creativity to work making masks for friends, staff and family. She sent care packages to Kimberly in New York City with fun masks for her grandson Nicholas, who were in the thick of that huge wave of illness sweeping through the city. Nicholas particularly loved his Denver Broncos and sea turtle masks. Nicolas snuggles each night under one of the many quilts she made him. Diana’s New York City bucket list included seeing Kim graduate from law school and going to the AKC Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Diana’s final home at Avamere was filled with love, kindness and gentle care. Diana loved everyone she met, talked to or could share time with…and from the wonderful stories we have heard….everyone felt the same about her.

Diana was preceded in death by her father Owen, her mother Ebba, her sister Allyson “Oopie” Baldwin and nephew Jeremy Ziegler. She is survived by her son Brian, his wife Sandy and granddaughter Samantha, as well as her daughter Kimberly and grandson Nicholas. She is also survived by her sister Bridt, nephews Jake and Jesse Ziegler and their beautiful families and many cousins.