Shirley Reye Blackson Diamond

Our beautiful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother Shirley Reye Blackson Diamond (91) left this earthly existence with her family at her bedside on August 8, 2023. Shirley was born in Los Angeles, California, on January 13, 1932, the oldest daughter of Virgil Leroy and Sarah Auline Beasley Blackson.
In August 1947 Shirley moved with her family to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she graduated from West High School, class of 1950. In the Summer of 1948 Shirley went to work in the ticket booth at Saltair Resort where she was introduced her first night to Lowell Diamond, the handsome, funny young man from Park City High School. Their first date was to the State Fair and from then-on they were inseparable. Lowell and Shirley were married on February 24, 1951, and welcomed five children: Garry, Robert, Randy, and “the twins” Mark and Michelle.
Shirley was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 1968 and on June 19, 1970, Lowell and Shirley sealed their love and family together forever in the Salt Lake Temple. They spent sixty fun and adventurous years together living around the world with Lowell’s career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department living in Vietnam, Thailand, Ghana, Virginia and California. In 1983 Lowell retired and they settled in Sandy, Utah.
After the last of her children were raised, Shirley enrolled in the nursing program at Salt Lake Community College, where she later graduated with honors with a degree in nursing in 1990. She and her family were so proud of her accomplishment! Shirley worked in skilled nursing centers where she loved caring for the elderly and disabled patients.
In 2001 Lowell and Shirley made their final move together to live in the sunshine in St. George, Utah. Shirley lost the love of her life when Lowell passed away in St. George in January 2011. In 2015 Shirley relocated from St. George to Riverton, Utah, to be closer to her children. She loved her home and friends in her Tithing Hills neighborhood.
In 2022 Shirley moved to Sagewood at Daybreak where she lived the remainder of her life. We are thankful for the staff of Sagewood and Canyon Hospice who lovingly cared for her.
Shirley’s pride and joy in life was working with her family history which she compiled for over 54 years. She was so fascinated with learning of her ancestors and reveled in learning the names, faces and stories of those who lived before her. You would almost always find her sitting at her computer surrounded by piles of papers and pictures, scanning and typing away. It was her goal in life to leave this legacy of research for her family.
Shirley is survived by her five children: Garry Diamond, Robert (Patricia) Diamond, Randy Diamond, Mark (Carla) Diamond and Michelle (Jeff) Rasmussen; 10 grandchildren [Elizabeth, Amanda, Lindsay, Natasha, Daren, Alyssia, Sara, Hayley, Michael, and Nick]; 11 Great-Grand Children; 1 Great-Great Grandchild and her many nieces, nephews and friends who were like family to her. She is preceded in death by her eternal companion Lowell, grandson Robert Lowell; her parents, her three siblings (Glenn, Virge and Carol); and her little dog Callie who was her constant companion.
A family viewing will be held on Friday, August 18 at 10 a.m. in the Chapel at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 17111 South, Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah with graveside services to follow at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, Shirley asked that you please make a donation to your local animal rescue, Wounded Warrior Project or other Veterans support organization.
Service Information
Viewing August 18, 2023 at 10:00 to 10:45 AM
Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Chapel), 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah





Graveside Service
at 11:00 AM
Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah