Dianne Sabom Grammer

Dianne Sabom Grammer, age 65, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away Thursday morning, August 18. It is important that all who know her know that she died while working in her yard, a love that was only surpassed by the love of her family and friends, and of course, her wonderful and beautiful art.

Dianne was born on November 27, 1945, just three minutes after her twin sister, Margaret, in Houston, Texas to Felicia Slataper and William Oscar Sabom. Dianne spent her entire childhood in Houston until she departed for the University of Colorado as a 17 year old freshman in 1963. In 1965 she transferred to The University of Texas where she graduated with a degree in Journalism (although desiring to major in Art, something about a difference of opinion between her desires and dad’s money) in 1967. From 1967 until 1972 she worked in public relations at Neiman-Marcus. However, a pallet and canvas always awaited her at home each night.

Dianne, ever the independent soul, nonetheless succumbed to the continuous courtship of Jerry Richard Grammer; they married on September 23, 1972. Dianne and Jerry were just a little over a month from celebrating their 39th wedding anniversary. Dianne and Jerry made their home in Austin for all those years, giving Dianne the opportunity to return to the University and get her beloved BFA in 1991 after her sons started school.

Dianne is survived by her husband Jerry, her two wonderful sons and their families: Jonathan and Claire Grammer, grandchildren Jeb and Grace; Christopher and Jennifer Grammer. While grand-parenting was pretty new to Dianne, oh how she loved that new role. “Nana” loved them so!

Dianne is further survived by her twin sister, Margaret Sabom-Bruchez, and her family, and two brothers, Steve and Sharon Sabom and Michael and Diane Sabom and their families, mother-in-law Doris Grammer, her sister-in-law, Jeanenne and husband Mike Oglesby, and Janice and husband Mike Walker, and many dear and precious nieces and nephews, and cousins. And friends too countless to mention.

Dianne is predeceased by her parents, Felicia Slataper and William Oscar Sabom, and father-in-law, Jesse Richard Grammer.

In passing, Dianne lives on not only through her children, and her oils and pastels, but through the countless students that she has met and taught and loved over the years as a faculty member of the Austin Museum of Art and Ghost Ranch, Abiquii, New Mexico. Dianne had just returned from teaching a ten day painting workshop in France and looked forward to this new endeavor in her life.

Funeral services for Dianne will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 23, at First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701. Burial will be in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. Relatives and friends are welcome at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705, on Monday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Save Town Lake, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the Austin Museum of Art.