Diane (Hayes) Bailey

Diane (Hayes) Bailey passed away peacefully into her Savior’s arms on Saturday, March 21, 2026 with her family by her side. Diane was born in Hollis, Oklahoma on September 14, 1946 to Curtis and Laverne (Trammell) Hayes. She was the second of three children.

Diane spent most of her school years in Mangum, Oklahoma. She was a member of Mangum First Baptist Church and was very active in school activities. This included junior high cheerleader, high school twirler, Band Queen, Homecoming Queen candidate, and a member of Mangum Tiger’s girls basketball team who won 3 straight State Championships her Sophomore through her Senior year. Diane graduated from Mangum High School in 1964. She went on to attend college at Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma where she majored in Elementary Education. While there, she was nominated for Freshman Queen and was chosen as Miss December for their Calendar Girl calendar.

In 1967, Diane’s college career was put on hold to welcome her first daughter, Stephani, in September 1967. She made the decision to hold off on school and stay home to love on her baby girl and enjoy being a Mom, but she did eventually go back and just before graduating with honors, she welcomed her second daughter, Sharri, in February 1971. Diane was so very proud of her girls and never missed the opportunity to spend time with them shopping at Kohl’s or talking to them on the phone about their day.

Soon after college graduation, Diane began her teaching career in Edmond. In 1974, she made the most important move of her life. With her 2 little girls in tow, Diane moved to Wellington, Texas to teach Elementary. Here she met the love of her life, Coach Phil Bailey. While he fell in love with her at first sight, she took some convincing, but with so much love for both her and her girls, she fell in love with him and on April 10, 1976, she became Mrs. (Coach) Phil Bailey. She was a proud Coach’s wife and embraced all the challenges it held, including moving. Diane continued to teach in Wellington for 3 more years, but then, following her husband’s coaching adventures, taught in Throckmorton, Nocona, Ranger and finished her teaching career in Lufkin, Texas for 20 years at Coston Elementary as an extremely accomplished 4th Grade Writing Teacher.

In her over 35 years of teaching, Diane was Teacher of the Year 6 times and impacted children’s lives through the love of reading and writing and her love for her students. And she truly loved them all.

In her time as a dedicated teacher, and following retirement, Diane was a devoted Mom and Nana. She loved her children and grandchildren fiercely and was so proud of them. She could be found every summer tootling around Plano, Texas in her Honda Pilot with her grandkids, always making sure they made it to Sonic Happy Hour. She never missed an opportunity to support and witness her children and grandchildren participate in their activities and special events, including watching her 6’5” youngest grandson play basketball, who she was convinced inherited her on-court skills.

Above all was Diane’s love and devotion to her husband, Phil, of 50 years. There was no doubt God created them for one another and through all the adventures and changes in their life, she adored him and he was truly the love of her life.

Diane leaves behind her husband of 50 years, Phil Bailey of Lufkin; daughters, Stephani Holman (John) of Paducah and Sharri Settles (Shane) of Wylie; grandchildren, Kayla, Josh, Wesley, Nick and Maddie; sister, Earlaine Moore; and brother, Gaylon Hayes (Paulette).

She was preceded in death by her Daddy, Curtis Hayes and Mother, Laverne Hayes.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Joseph House, Inc. P.O. Box 150554, Lufkin, Texas 75915.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Carroway Funeral Home with graveside services on Friday, April 3, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. at Fairmount Cemetery in Hollis, Oklahoma.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

`Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.