Diane Marie (Helzer-Keeling) Leonard passed away at the age of 67 from complications due to cancer at her home on March 8th 2023, while surrounded by her loved ones.

Diane was born in Portland, Oregon on September 12th, 1956 to Harold and Darlene Helzer. As soon as she could walk, she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She loved making mud pies and finding bugs so getting into Girl Scouts was right up her alley. Her mother being the den mother was something she treasured for years to come because she'd always mention seeing her in the mess hall when it was time to eat and that made her feel right at home. Growing up with her older brother Don, they spent most of their time on the Oregon coast and various family trips. Places like Crater Lake and Cove Palisades were the places they loved to go to but these were also where she said she would get one of the worst sunburns ever, but it was still worth it. As she grew older, venturing into maturity, she attended David Douglas High School (Go Scots!), learned how to drive, and graduated ultimately meeting who would be her first husband Richard Keeling. They married on September 30, 1977, and were blessed with their two daughters Krystal in 1979 & Nicole in 1984. Their marriage lasted many years, but they decided to move on separately, later divorcing each other. Diane and the girls then moved to St. John's in 1987 and became a family with Chris Leonard after they were married in January 2000 in a little chapel in Vegas.

Knitting, and crocheting, as well as her love of plants, were a beloved pastime that she learned from her mother. You could always find her outside in her garden tending to her abundance of flowers and plants.

While taking care of her two daughters she had various jobs and even found the time to go back to school to get her associate degree. Once her health started preventing her from working, she started to focus more on truly living her life, like doing more things she enjoyed and being a grandma. She loved being a grandma because she got to enjoy spoiling her grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, especially her massive collection of Stephen King because she was into mystery and horror. But she loved nothing better than to be surrounded by her family as that is the most important thing she treasures.

Diane was a beautiful, loving, caring and kind person who loved people, plants and her animals.  She always stood up for the underdog and would listen and talk to everyone.  She was like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day.  My sunflower, my friend, my wife.

She is survived by her husband Chris Leonard: her daughters, Krystal (Krissy) Keeling-Alvarado, Nicole (Nikki) Keeling; Her brother Donald Helzer; Grandchildren; Marcus Hasan, Adrian (AJ) Alvarado, Lillian Alvarado & Great grandchild; Jaida Hasan.