Diane T. Finley

NOTE: Please refrain from sharing on social media. Full Write-Up of Diane's Highlights: Diane T. Finley will be lovingly remembered by brother Tom Finley (and wife Dee) of Oakboro, NC; daughter Patricia Jean Colket Stout aka Patty Gleisberg (and husband Johnny) of Mandeville, LA; grandson Shad Levi Finley Stout of San Antonio, TX; "Uncle Jack" E. Wilson of Kennesaw GA; cousin Laura Harding (husband John and children Mary Claire, Will, and Drew); Patty Taylor, and many beloved friends, teachers and students. Born in Nashville to Patricia Wilson Finley and Graham Finley, she grew up mostly in Georgia with twin brothers Tim and Tom. After graduation from Mt. Pleasant High School in Wilmington, Delaware, Diane studied music at Ohio Wesleyan College, where she met her future husband, Peter Colket. After marrying and having a daughter, she lived in several cities in the northeast, including Boston, where she served her Church at its headquarters in Boston. When she moved to St. Louis, Diane owned and operated a bookstore featuring children's books. Teaching at Woerther Elementary, she expanded their program to a full music curriculum in every grade, including full-length annual musical productions for the sixth graders. She earned a degree in education at Washington University and then a Master's in music from University of Missouri, Cape Girardeau. Diane especially loved organizing and directing children's choirs. She began the St. Louis County Children's Choir in "the house on Henry Road", building risers into the living room floor. She established the commitment to musical excellence, teamwork with kindness, and diversity that exists in the organization to this day. Later in Thomasville, Georgia, she directed the Frances Williams Community Choir. Several choir students state that she had a lasting positive effect on them. One said, "she changed my life". Another shares, "I am so incredibly thankful for [Ms. Finley] my life. I am a middle school teacher now, and I can only hope to come close to making an impact on these kids the way [she] impacted me." "I never would have directed plays in high school and college without her building up my ability and confidence." She greatly desired to see youngsters succeed in life. She especially tried to help them with reading. She authored a reading system for children and educators on phonics, entitled, Right to Read, which combined literacy with music, poetry, public speaking, and uplifting elements of culture. This program was utilized in several schools, homeschool programs, and research projects, Some children advanced several grades in reading comprehension in one year! Diane moved to Eustis in 2009 to care for her step-dad of many years, Charles Frank Tugend. She continued volunteer efforts, tutoring, mentoring, singing and serving the Christian Science Church, Eustis. She enjoyed visits with her grandson, Shad. She especially loved to hear him play the violin and was very proud as he became an Eagle Scout and graduated college. In 2018, Diane gave the welcoming speech at the 40th-anniversary Powell Symphony Hall concert of the St. Louis Children's Choirs she founded, which has flourished and grown into a number of children's and youth choirs, some of whom travel the world. As a member of the Christian Science church, Diane was a devout student of the Bible, with a strong daily prayer life. She is well remembered as a dedicated Bible workshop teacher, a curriculum writer, a tutor, private voice teacher, reading room volunteer, Sunday school teacher, and music educator. She was a mentor and is an inspiration to many. She insisted on seeing everyone in the highest light. Her greatest quest in life was to express more selfless love. Family and close friends will celebrate her life on August 15. Contact info: daughter Patricia Stout phone/text/voicemail 985 264-8089, or find link to more info and RSVP/Registration in the Events section of this website.