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Diana Crawford Keith, 53, is now shining with radiant splendor in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Diana died at her Vista San Juan Estates home on June 14, 2008 after a long battle with Wegener's granulomatosis which precipitated her Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She was born in Farmington, NM, on September 30, 1954 to her parents, Carroll and Bonnie Crawford. Her fondest memories were of her grandparents' apple orchard and vegetable gardens located between Bloomfield and Farmington. She always wanted to get back to where the earth was rich and could grow anything. Diana graduated as valedictorian from Bloomfield High School in 1972 and was one of the Bloomfield Choir Members selected to attend and sing at the opening of the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Other high school activities and honors awarded to Diana include being a member and accompanist of the Messenger choir, treasurer of the Student Council, member of the Stage Band, being selected as a Senior Girl Stater, a Teen Times reporter, DAR award recipient, and a member of the National Honor Society. Diana later earned a Bachelors Degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in Music and Education. While at UTEP she performed in many operas including the title role of Baby Doe in "The Ballad of Baby Doe" and the lead in "The Old Maid and the Thief." In addition to her opera roles, Diana presented many recitals, one of which included the world premier performance of "The Harp and the Wind." After graduating, she taught music in the public schools in El Paso, TX, Oklahoma City, OK and Bloomfield, NM. Diana was also a beloved music teacher of private voice and piano in all the afore-mentioned cities. During her lifetime of teaching music she touched and enriched the lives of thousands of students both young and old. She had a wonderful gift to teach music with love, compassion, and inspiration. Diana married Christopher Hatch in El Paso, TX in 1976 and had two children, Kirsten Yvonne Hatch and Ryan Christopher Hatch. Chris and Diana were married for five and a half years and then divorced. Diana remarried in 1983 to Bob Keith in El Paso, TX, and remained married for over 25 years until her death. Diana loved the Lord, and from the age of nine, spent countless hours playing piano as the church pianist she and her family attended. She also composed and produced sacred music in her studio. Many of her students had the privilege of singing them in their recitals. When Diana moved from Farmington, NM, to Albuquerque, NM, several of her students made the long trek from Farmington to Albuquerque to retain her as their teacher. Diana Crawford is survived by her husband, Bob Keith; her parents, Carroll and Bonnie Crawford; her grandmother, Dyvena Crawford; her sister, Becky Crawford and husband Lauren; and her brother, Scott Crawford, all of Farmington, NM. She is also survived by her two children, daughter, Kirsten Lofton and husband, Ricky and their son, Noah of El Paso, TX, and son Ryan Hatch of Albuquerque, NM. A special thanks to the First United Methodist Church Music Ministry for all of their love and support during this time. The cards and gifts were cherished. There will be a public Memorial Service at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 211 W. 20th St., Farmington, NM, on July 12, 2008 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Diana requested that donations be made in her name to the Vasculitis Foundation, www.vasculitisfoundation.org, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.leukemia.org. Psalms 98:1: "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvelous things!"
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