Diane Kay Fairbanks

Diane Kay Fairbanks, 78, of Northglenn, CO passed away on August 28, 2025. Diane was born in Johnson City, NY to Paul and Catherine McLean on January 18, 1947. She grew up in Greene, NY and attended Greene High School, where she was active in many sports including field hockey and archery. In high school, she also met the love of her life, Dale.

After high school, Dale joined the Air Force and Diane moved to Washington, D.C. and worked in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This was the start of a long career in public service with the federal government. She eventually worked in the U.S. Attorney’s offices in Cheyenne, WY and Denver, CO as a paralegal. While she worked and raised her family with her husband, Diane also completed a Bachelor’s Degree in writing at the University of Colorado in Denver.

After they were married, Dale and Diane began their life as a military family. Dale was in the Air Force for 20 years. They lived in South Dakota where their first daughter was born, then they moved to Texas where their second daughter was born. The whole family then moved to Wyoming where Dale would finish his service. They finally settled in Colorado where they have lived for over 40 years. They have made many dear life-long friends from all over the country.

Diane used to do a lot of snow-skiing and water-skiing, and the family went on many camping and RV trips over the years. Diane and Dale loved planning and participating in trips with their church RV club, “The Getaway Gang.” They also made trips to upstate New York with their camper trailer every summer to visit friends and family back home.

Some of Diane’s many talents included sewing, crocheting, and knitting. She knitted and crocheted many sweaters, hats, and blankets for family and friends. She also sewed dresses and outfits for her daughters and granddaughters, and she even made tiny clothes for their dolls and Barbies.

Diane’s daughters and granddaughters were the light of her life. She was so proud of all of them and loved to brag about them regularly. She also loved all of her nieces and nephews, and wanted to do whatever she could for them even though they lived far away. She was always checking in on family and friends and would remember the smallest details about everyone she knew. She will be missed by many.

Diane is survived by her husband, Dale Fairbanks of Northglenn, CO; two daughters, Lynette (Gid) Priest of Clovis, NM, and Dana (Matt) Loose of Highlands Ranch, CO; three granddaughters, Rilee, Shaylee, and Lindsay; and one sister, Donna Beebe of Chenango Forks, NY. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Northglenn United Methodist Church in Northglenn, CO. A separate graveside burial will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Sylvan Lawn Cemetery in Greene, NY.

Contributions can be made in Diane’s memory to Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation or Northglenn United Methodist Church.