Diane Smith

1956 - 2026

Diane Daniels Smith

1956 - 2026

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Diane Daniels Smith passed away peacefully from this life on February 10, 2026. Diane was born on March 15, 1956, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah to Mont Charles Daniels and Mary Jean Olsen Daniels. She was the third of five daughters.

She enjoyed her childhood in Ephraim, where she attended school and graduated from Manti High School in 1977. While at Manti High she was active in many school clubs and activities. After high school she moved to Salt Lake where she attended Salt Lake College of Medical and Dental Assistants. She pursued a career of medical assisting and as a Medical Office Administrator.

Diane married David Smith in April 1977. They are the parents of two children. They later divorced but remained friends.

Diane enjoyed country western dancing, and this is where she met her soul mate and partner Ed Morgan. Diane and Ed loved dancing. They enjoyed Rv'ing and traveling. She was involved in the Intermountain Country Dancing Association. She was excellent at couples and line dancing. Diane and Ed always found places to dance as they traveled.

Diane was playful, energetic, vivacious, and just the right amount of sassy. She had a sparkle in her eye and a laugh you could hear across the room. She enjoyed being outside doing yardwork, gardening, but especially playing with her grandchildren, who were her reason for living. She was a prolific quilter, loved sewing, and with her sisters she donated several crafts and items as well as decorating trees for the Festival of Trees, which they did for over 20 years.

In 2016, Diane was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and was given just three months to live. In true Diane fashion, she defied the odds and lived nearly ten more vibrant years. In August 2025, the cancer returned aggressively, and she fought courageously for six long months. She never complained and never gave up, showing her determination and strength until the very end. Her sisters felt it was both a privilege and an honor to help care for her during this time, and their love for her was immeasurable.

Diane is survived by her loving partner of 26 years, Ed, by her daughter Alyson (C. Paul, deceased) Brown and son David (Shala Terry) Smith. She is survived by 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her mother, Mary Jean Daniels, and her sisters Charlotte (Bob) Westbrook, Sandra Rindlesbach, Terri Jean Daniels, and Lynette (Travis) Handleson. Also survived by Ed's mother, Ardith Williams and Family. She was preceded in death by her father, Mont Daniels; her grandparents; and her son-in-law, C. Paul Brown.

We will be celebrating Diane's life on Saturday, February 21, 2026 with a viewing from 11:00-11:45am and service beginning at 12 noon. A viewing will also be held on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 6pm-8pm. Viewings and services will be at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral home located at 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah.

Diane loved purple, so we encourage you to wear purple (sparkly if possible) or western wear.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the physicians, nurses, and staff at Huntsman Cancer Institute, who cared for her with tenderness and compassion. A special thank you to Dr. Gilcrease for walking alongside her over the past ten years.

Her legacy lives on in the love she gave, the quilts she stitched, the dance floors she lit up, and her grandchildren who were her greatest joy.

Click this link to view additional details about Diane's Services,

including any available live streams: https://my.gather.app/remember/diane-smith-2026