Diane Louise Pope, 48, of Graton, died on March 11.

Born in West Covina, Diane was raised in San Luis Obispo, Los
Angeles and Pasadena. She moved to Sonoma County to join her
mother, Mary Moore just days before the birth of her first child in
1978. She was a resident of Graton for the past 20 years. While
raising her children was her primary occupation, she was also an
artist and jewelry maker and loved to share her creations with
friends and family. In the past year she helped death row inmate
and artist Dennis Brewer in getting his artwork out to the public.
She also ran a recycled clothing shop in Forestville called
Mirabels in the 1990s before the birth of her fourth child. Diane
was diagnosed with cancer six years ago and put up a courageous
battle, allowing her youngest child to grow up so she could
remember her mother. She is loved and remembered by a large
multiracial community from Africa to California that includes her
mother, Mary Moore of Camp Meeker, children, Dillon and Emily
Chavez, Kyle Pope Tryon, and Raina Pope; partner Floyd Sims, all of
Graton and father, Jo Pope of Santa Margarita. Special sisters are
Kali Link, Julie Burrows, Laurie Moore and Diana Arguelo. She was
also a mother to an extended family of Graton teenagers over the
years, many of whom helped to care for her during the cancer years.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 at
Oak Grove School in Graton. All four of her children went through
elementary school there and it is through the kindness of the Oak
Grove parent group that the service and catering are being made
available for a celebration of her life. Friends may bring potted
flowers to be planted in a memorial garden for Diane. Donations for
Raina’s college fund can be sent to Exchange Bank in Sebastopol.
For more information, call 874-2248.