Diane Rae Skiles

SKILES, ALAMSHAH, SMITH, FISHER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/20/2020 at 05:31:32

Le Claire, IA

On Feb. 3, 1950, Diane Rae Alamshah was born in Chicago, Illinois. On July 20, 2016, Diane Rae "Deva" Skiles died in Le Claire, Iowa. We are born and we die, and then there is the middle. Deva rocked the middle in rhinestone sunglasses! She started life as the only child of Marvin "Ted" Alamshah and Ruth "Bun" Alamshah. Deva had a moniker for everyone she knew, often hysterically descriptive.

Her longing to be part of a family was fulfilled in the last and happiest period of her life. She ended life as the indomitable mother to Lisa Smith, mother-in-law and best friend to Ron Smith, teacher, mentor, protector and Cool Grandma to Thomas "TJ" Smith and loving reluctant dog mother to John (aka the pony).

Deva was unconventional in every way; her journey to Iowa and the family she yearned for was no exception. Having given birth to Lisa when she was 15 years old, Deva selflessly placed Lisa for adoption. There was a period of drug and alcohol use. Deva humbly maintained her sobriety for the remainder of her life. She was a truth teller and her honesty and transparency connected with people from all walks of life. Deva had a style of her own. She was quirky and funny and was a gifted and published writer.

During her lifetime she completed a 13 year career with State Compensation Insurance Fund, part in Woodland Hills, California, and the remainder in her second home Ventura, California. Deva was every attorney's dream of support staff.

She treated friendship as an art form. She was a "help you move, buy into your dreams, see the best in you, never give up on you" generous friend. She also had a limitless capacity for the love of God, people and dogs. I would bet we could fill a small stadium with her friends. And Deva always liked a good bet. She was a welcome guest at casinos from California to Florida.

It would be 28 years before Deva saw her only child again. Deva looked for, found and reunited with her daughter Lisa and became fast friends with Lisa's mother, Dorothy Fisher. When Dorothy died Deva became Lisa's second mother and when Lisa was separated from her son TJ, Deva moved to her new favorite home in Le Claire, Iowa where she stood in the gap for Lisa and became far more than a grandmother to TJ for 6 years. Even after breaking her hip and experiencing serious complications, Deva was steadfast to see her family reunited.

Deva lived joyously, creatively and courageously. She died quickly, quietly and peacefully and assuredly went straight to heaven with her rhinestone flip-flops still on. As glorious as Deva knew the Kingdom to be, there surely was a moment when Deva looked back to capture one more instant of the immense pleasure she experienced with her cherished family: Lisa, "her heart"; her precious grandson, Thomas; her son-in-law, Ron Smith; and her co-conspirator Bernadette Brown. She loved and was loved by her special friends, Rick Eicher and his dog, Frank, Rose Richardson, Pastor Melody Oltman and her church family at the First Presbyterian Church, Le Claire, Iowa along with countless others including "Uncle Dan" Lengel who she treated like family. Deva was met in heaven by her parents, relatives and treasured friends that passed before her.

A memorial service will be held on August 6, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. 12th St., Le Claire, Iowa. You may honor Deva's memory by adopting a dog or sending a donation to your local animal shelter.