Diane Colby Smith...

Diane Colby Smith was born on January 15, 1944 in Concord, Vermont.  She grew up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts before making her way to the Midwest.  She was a longtime resident of Hollister before moving to The Bungalows in Branson.

Diane will be remembered for artistic talent, love of the outdoors and inquisitive nature.  She was a gifted painter and would bring out images hidden in leaves, rocks or wood with her pen and brush.  With her art, she made her world more beautiful and graciously shared that beauty with others.  Using natural items as her canvas aligned with her enjoyment of the outdoors. Taking long walks and exploring were some of Diane’s favorite pastimes. She loved growing plants as well and had a very green thumb. Diane was a very logical and inquisitive woman.  She enjoyed solving puzzles and crosswords.  She would take things apart to learn how they worked and teach herself how to fix anything that was broken.

She departed this life on February 5, 2025 at the age of 81.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard Colby and Winifred Wheeler; her husband, David Smith; her brother, Bernard Colby, Jr.; and sisters, Judy Willson and Gayle McMullen.

She will be deeply missed by those she created so many memories with and shared so much love.  Her daughter, Chelsea Hardy (nee Babcock) of Leeds, England; Chelsea’s father Richard Babcock of Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Camilla Bourbeau of Springfield, MA; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Colby of Boston, MA; step-grandchildren, Bertram and Isabel Hardy; and her beloved nephews, Jeffrey Allard, Brian Colby, Christopher Colby, Timothy Colby and Sean Colby.  She also leaves behind friends and extended family who were enriched by her care, humor and presence.

Cremation arrangements were in the care of Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, Branson.