Dian Scofield Zillner

Dian Scofield Zillner passed away on March 4, 2005, in Palm Springs, Calif., at the age of 92. She was born in Neodesha, Kan., in 1932. Her parents were Flossie (Ally) and James Scofield of Neodesha. After living in Independence, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., the family returned to Neodesha in 1945. Dian graduated from Neodesha High School in 1951. She continued her schooling at Coffeyville Jr. College and then received a bachelor's degree in education at the Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg in 1955.

Dian was married to Lawrence Zillner in 1953 and they had three children, Jeffry Mark, Mary Suzanne, and Tracy Eugene. They were later divorced.

After moving to Maryville, Mo., Dian began her teaching career at Mount Alverno, a Catholic Girls School. After finishing her Library Science degree at Maryville's Northwest Missouri State University, she became librarian at Maryville High School, a job she held until retirement. She also completed her English master's degree at Northwest during her teaching career.

Other favorite times during those years included the summers she and her daughter Suzanne spent in Grand Lake, Colo., where they both worked in stores in the small mountain town. She also enjoyed the many trips she made to Kansas City to participate in son Jeff's house tours and to see the results of the many old houses he remodeled in his Pendleton Heights neighborhood.

Dian was a collector of antique dolls and dollhouses as well as movie-related items. Her hobbies led to the writing of 14 books on various collectibles with her daughter as her photographer. They were published by Schiffer Publishing. Most of the books were written after her retirement when she moved to Gypsum, Colo., to be near her daughter and her family, including her only grandchild, Prather Silverthorn.

She is survived by her son Jeff and partner Frank Spruce of Palm Springs, Calif., daughter Suzanne and her husband Mark Silverthorn of Grand Lake, Colo., grandson Prather Silverthorn and wife Laura of Florence, S.C., and great-grandson Spencer Silverthorn of Florence, S.C. She was preceded in death by baby Tracy Eugene, parents James and Flossie Scofield, and grandparents Bert and Emma Ally, and Owen and Ella Scofield.

The private burial is in Neodesha with arrangements by Loran Fawcett Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local animal shelter to share her love of animals in need of furever friends.