Diane Sue (Pope) Blackburn, 70, of Parsons, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, where she entered on Sunday, Feb. 1. She was born Feb. 11, 1955 at her family farm near Walnut, Kansas, the daughter of Leslie W. and Olvie M. (Newberry) Pope.
Diane was raised on a farm near Parsons and attended Meadow View Elementary school. After her father died in 1968, she moved with her family back to a farm near Walnut, and then attended and graduated from Girard High School in 1973. Diane graduated from Labette Community College in 1986.
On Aug. 24, 1985 Diane married Jim Blackburn, they have lived on a farm where she has taken pride in raising her Charolais cattle.
Survivors include her spouse, Jim of the home and her sons, Adam Every of the home, Andrew Every of Parsons, and a daughter, Angela Harney of Woodstock, Georgia. Grandchildren include Lexi Harney, Chase Harney, Ryan Harney, Jordyn Shattuck and Ryker Every. Sister includes Mary Jo Howard of Parsons.
She was preceded in death by her parents Leslie in 1968 and Olvie in 2016 and brothers Kenneth Pope in 2000 and Leland Pope in 1946.
Diane had been employed as a para professional at Lincoln Elementary school until 1996 when her son, Adam had an automobile accident, she then dedicated her life to his recovery, rehabilitation and his dialysis treatments starting in December 2010, by volunteering at the Dialysis Center until she began her own dialysis treatments in February 2014. She always called the center her second home and loved the employees and other patients. Diane had attended Parsons Foursquare Church.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at Lakeview Cemetery south of Erie with Pastor David Keaton officiating. At Diane’s request, there will be no viewing.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Parsons Foursquare Church and may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS, 67357.
