Dianna Taylor

Early childhood was spent in Port Sulphur, LA., then the family moved to Belle Chasse, LA in 1959 where she started high school. It was there she met her high school sweetheart, who would become her husband, Jeffrey Taylor. Their union spanned over 60 years until her death on March 31, 2023.

Jeff & Dianna were married on November 9, 1968, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Belle Chasse, LA. Shortly after Jeff was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Polk, LA, for basic training then Fort Sill, OK, for Advanced Infantry Training, then ultimately Vietnam. While Jeff was in Vietnam, Dianna gave birth to their 1st child, Ryan Taylor. Ryan was born in Marrero, LA on December 2, 1969. When Jeff returned from Vietnam the couple sought employment in Pasadena, Texas where Jeff’s mother and father resided. Jeff started working for his father in general construction that eventually led to a more specialized type of work, concrete construction. With the support of his father, Jeff eventually started his own business, T&T Construction. Dianna & Jeff worked hard and sacrificed a lot to keep the business going, always making sure Jeff’s dad and all their employees were paid every week, even before they were. Slowly the business grew, and the hard work and reputation of the company laid its own foundation for success. Later after their son Ryan graduated from high school, he married his high school sweetheart Heather Rice Taylor and they started their life together in Deer Park, Texas. Heather was a blessing to Dianna; she was so impressed by the wife and mother she became and was proud of the partnership that she and Ryan nurtured over the years. Dianna’s first grandchild Mary Caitlin Taylor James was born on August 3, 1994. Dianna was overjoyed with the birth of her granddaughter and was so proud of the young lady she has become. After graduating from nursing school, Caitlin married her high school sweetheart Chandler James. The couple gives back by being a warm and welcoming family that has touched many lives. Their love for children and God is a blessing to this world and Dianna was in awe of both of their giving hearts and souls. On February 3, 1998, Dianna welcomed her 2nd granddaughter, Anna Paige Taylor Garner who she proudly called “Anna”, which was her mother’s name. Anna was a light and joy in Dianna’s life. Dianna cherished Anna and was amazed by Anna’s outlandish individuality and her ability to make her smile and laugh. After graduating from the University of Texas Anna married her high school sweetheart, Braden Garner. Dianna relied on Braden for many things, but the most important job he does for her is take care of her granddaughter. Dianna was very proud of them both for their hard work and determination.

After graduating high school Ryan joined the family business and is now the proud owner of T & T Construction, with his wife Heather. Ryan and Heather have carried with them the values Jeff & Dianna instilled into the fabric of the business; hard work, honesty, integrity, and an exceptional quality of work performed. T & T still remains a family business with Ryan, Heather, Braden and Darrell Corbin, who has always been considered a member of the family along with his wife Kelly.

On April 28, 1978, Jeff & Dianna welcomed their 2nd child, Amanda Taylor. Dianna and Amanda were very close and later in life they would lean on each other for support during their battles with and recovery from addiction and alcoholism. Dianna got sober on June 12, 2014 and was a loved and valued member of her recovery community. She and Amanda opened a women’s sober living home in Pasadena, Texas called Courage Brings Change, aka Courage House. Dianna’s responsibility to her community has greatly inspired her daughter Amanda, who now runs Courage House. Dianna and Amanda believe that every woman who has a desire to get sober deserves the type of help and encouragement that they both received when they were welcomed into their recovery community. While starting her journey in recovery, Dianna met a beautiful soul named Alanne Saunders at New Hope Women’s Center in Pasadena. Dianna and Alanne bonded immediately and were later united in the goal of helping Dianna’s daughter Amanda get sober. Dianna was very comforted by their friendship and was grateful when Amanda and Alanne became friends and roommates. Amanda was blessed to find the love of her life in 2019, Peter Catalani. Pete and Amanda met at work, Southtex Asphalt Services, and were married on December 31, 2020.

Pete was a gift from God for both Amanda and Dianna. Dianna was at peace knowing Pete was there for not only Amanda, but for her and Jeff. Pete was very touched by Dianna’s warm and loving spirit and loved her from the first time they met, saying “Dianna didn’t make you feel at home, she was home!” Dianna also leaves behind her sister Shirley Simmons, who she loved and respected very much. Dianna always admired her sisters strength and strong spiritual health. She was also very close with her two nieces, Rhonda Pruitt who lives close by was like a little sister to Dianna and Gail Radig who lives in Belle Chasse with her husband Steve Radig, who Dianna loved and respected very much. Dianna was so thankful to him for taking such good care of her family. She and Gail spoke often on the phone and were very close, Gail called Dianna Auntie and so did her daughter Nicole and her son Eric. Dianna was excited when Nicole had her first child Anna and was looking forward to the birth of Nicole’s second child before her passing.

Dianna had many accomplishments in her life in addition to her family, her and Jeff ran the family business before she retired at the age of 67. She also took her love for people and her community and became a member of the Deer Park City Council. She served on the council from 1994 to 2002. She remained involved in the city by helping with council elections and was a member and president of the Deer Park Heritage Society for several years. At the time of her passing she had just finished her term as president of the City of Deer Park Crime Control District. Dianna was also a close friend and supporter of Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton. They often visited with each other and talked either politics or gardening. Dianna enjoyed documenting her family’s life and history by scrapbooking, always wanting to leave her loved ones with an organized outline of her life and all her happy memories. Dianna loved gardening and was very knowledgeable about it, she could make anything grow! Another passion was travel, she thoroughly enjoyed the RV trips she and Jeff would take, the most memorable being a trip to Sedona where they took a plane ride over the Grand Canyon! Other highlights of her life were meeting and thanking Rudolph Giuliani and George W. Bush.

Dianna enjoyed life, she loved people, and she cherished her family. She fought very hard at the end of her life to regain her health and to continue to do the things that made her happy and her life worthwhile. She was ready to do that all the way to the end. However, God had other plans and she never doubted his will. One of her favorite bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Dianna did everything to the best of her ability she never gave up. Although she still had many plans for her time here on earth, she is now an angel in heaven who knows the meaning of life and death and more importantly she knows God’s plan.