April 7, 1956 – January 9, 2022
Diana M. Phelan
Diana M. Phelan died peacefully at Bridle Trails Senior Care home in Bellevue, WA after four years of fighting a rare form of sarcoma cancer.
She was born in and grew up near St. Louis, Missouri where she overcame a neurological hearing loss to become a member of her church choir. As a child she developed a deep love of nature and of Native American lore and culture.
She began her collage career at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. In 1974 her family moved to Washington State where she finished her collage education and received a bachelor’s degree in geologic science at Western Washington University.
She worked as an environmental geologist for most of her career, inspecting soil and water table samples for signs of carcinogenic contamination. She was a licensed inspector for asbestos and lead contamination in buildings as well. Many of her studies were highly praised and used by the EPA. When her geology career ended, she returned to school and received a degree in pharmacology, while volunteering with the American Red Cross in her spare time. Finally, before she had to retire for health reasons, she worked as a passport processor with CGI, a contractor with the Passport Agency in Seattle, WA.
Diana was an accomplished woodworker and gardener. She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in the Yakima region. She remained curious and interested in nature, geology, and ancestry throughout her life. She went on a gold panning trip to Nome, AK, a personal trip to Bora Bora and several geologic field trips through the western US. Her dream was to visit her ancestors’ homelands in Ireland and Scotland.
Diana is survived by her elder sister, Carla Phelan, with whom she was very close and shared a life, a house, and multiple pet cats.
No immediate memorial is planned at this time, but a private celebration of her life may take place in early April, around her birthday. Those interested in attending such an event should contact her family via email: <>. She asked that people donate to the charity of their choice rather than send flowers to her family. Her ashes are to be sprinkled in Yellowstone National Park according to her wishes.
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