Stephanie Diane Callison

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stephanie Diane Callison, beloved mother, sister, daughter and friend. Diane was a bright light in this world, the sun of her children’s lives, and will be deeply missed. She died lovingly surrounded by her family on February 6, 2022 after a brave battle with an aggressive and rare form of cancer. She fought hard, and even when her body grew tired of fighting, her spirit never did.

Diane was born on December 26th, 1961 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was the oldest child: responsible, determined, resourceful and resilient. She was a daddy’s girl with special interests in sports, reading and singing in her beautiful alto voice. She grew up in the Church of Christ and remained a faithful member of the church and follower of Jesus all her life.

She graduated Valedictorian from Western Heights High School in 1980. There she participated in cheerleading, choir, National Honor Society and was the track manager. She was also honored as the Track Queen & Choir Queen. She went on to study at Oklahoma State University where she joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Computer Science.

After college, Diane married Philip Callison and the two moved to Dallas, TX to begin their careers in Human Resources and Architecture respectively. Diane spent the entirety of her career in Human Resources and Compensation, a job she was so passionate about, and she excelled. She was particularly gifted at helping people cope with the loss of a job and helping reframe their mindset to one of empowerment and choice. She lived out this teaching in her own life time and time again when things didn’t go her way, and with her eventual cancer diagnosis, and inspired us all as she did so. Throughout her career she worked for EDS, Perot Systems, Dell, Fujitsu, and Thomson Reuters, where she was employed when she passed.

Diane and Phil had five children: Matt in 1991, Katie in 1993, Abby in 1995, Emily in 1997, and Hallie in 1999. The unconditional and unselfish love she had for her children and eventual grandchildren was something to behold. She was the picture of a committed, invested and joy-filled mother and “Sugie” whose children were at the center of her life, and she was at the center of theirs.

She sent her children to a private school, Trinity Christian Academy, so that as they learned of history and the world, they would also be taught about God’s sovereign hand in all of it and His love for each of them. Diane was a constant presence at TCA. She spent endless hours as a volunteer in the classroom, on field trips, in the Mum room, concession stand and truly had a servants heart for the school. She also was a substitute teacher for many years and worked in the after school care program. She never missed one of her kids’ performances, football games, pep rallies, parent teacher conferences or parent days. Her kids could always depend on her to show up for them, and that carried into their college and post-grad years as well. She spent many hours driving North and South on I-35 between Oklahoma State and The University of Texas to be present at sorority rush, Mom’s Weekends, football games, and sometimes for no reason at all other than to spend time with her kids.

She was known for her gift of planning, from the best family vacations in Seaside, FL each Summer and Crested Butte, CO each winter to perfectly-themed birthday parties and beautiful holiday celebrations. She had a creative vision and the talent and work ethic to turn that vision into special memories for her family that they will always have to hold onto.

Weeks before her diagnosis, Diane got to take the trip she had always dreamed of with her daughter Hallie. Together they spent two weeks road-tripping through Colorado (where several other of her children and grandchildren met them), Wyoming and Montana with special stops in Buena Vista, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Whitefish, Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons and Missoula. That trip brought her so much joy and was the embodiment of the adventurous, fun and determined person she was. We would talk about it often through the days that were to come and it was a comfort.

Finally, Diane was incredibly passionate about her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a member at Valley Parkway Church of Christ which had become a second family to her through the years. She deeply loved this community of people and their heart for the kingdom of God. In her final days, she requested that friends from church come to the hospital to sing over her, and we were able to make that wish come true for two worshipful hours.

To say that she will be missed is an understatement. Diane’s presence permeated the lives of her family and friends in such a way that everything we see and do reminds us of her. We will see her in gorgeous garden roses, in the full moon and a Colorado star-filled sky, in the faces of her children and grandchildren. She will always be with us, and one day we will be reunited in the sweet bye and bye.

Diane is survived by her children, Matt Callison, Katie Sansom and husband Collin, Abby Callison and fiancé Jevin Riven, Emily Young and husband Brandon, and Hallie Callison and their father, Phil Callison; her precious grandchildren Henley Callison, Hudson Callison, Beckett Sansom and Goldie Sansom; her father and mother, Steve and Nancy Martin; her sister and brother-in-law Tracy and Steve Orten and their children Garrett and Callie; and many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, extended family and cherished friends. She is preceded in death by her Maternal Grandparents, George and Clyde Oma Stubbs and Paternal Grandparents, Herschel and Virginia Martin, and Irene Bailey Shipman.

A Visitation will be held Thursday, February 17th, from 4-8 o’clock in the evening at Laurel Land Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Dallas, TX. The Celebration of Diane’s Life will take place Friday, February 18th, at 10 o’clock in the morning at The Emerson in Kaufman. Reception to follow. The Interment will take place at Laurel Land Memorial Park following the reception at approximately 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

If you would like to send flowers, the family asks that you would direct all deliveries to Laurel Land Funeral Home & Memorial Park. If you would like to make a donation on behalf of Diane, in lieu of flowers, please consider Dallas CASA.