Our sweet Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend Diane James Brewer passed away Saturday, June 15, 2024 in Murray, Utah after a brief illness.  She was born Diane James on August 26, 1954 in Payson Utah to Trevor Mohring James and Clara Ann Menlove James.  She was the second of ten children born to this courageous couple.

As a child, Diane was quiet and shy and loved her teachers, but because she was so shy she was often lonely. Fortunately there were some children and teachers who took time to get to know her.  She learned at a young age to value a testimony of Jesus.  Diane adored her Grandma Menlove and had many fond memories of staying with her.  Her paternal grandparents lived in England but she was able to write to them and her grandparents visited them at least once.  When her parents were living in Sandy, Utah her mother went into labor and sent her two little girls outside to find the neighbor to help.  Because they weren't allowed to cross the street, they both just stood across the road and stared at him.  He finally figured out that something was up and followed them to their house where he helped deliver the baby.  In December 1964, Diane's family moved to California and settled in San Jose where she grew to young womanhood and made some forever friends, like Patti Kuehl, Cheri White, Jennifer Voreis, and Rick Carrillo.  It was in Junior High School that Diane was diagnosed with epilepsy, and it drastically changed her life.  She became more isolated due to the stigma of her disease.  Unfortunately, this would have an effect on her feelings of self-worth for all of her life.  While biking to work one day she had a seizure that wrecked the bicycle and caused serious injuries that took months to heal.

Dave Brewer was a recent convert to the church in 1970 and had served a mission in Southeast Asia.  When he returned from his mission in 1974, he offered a ride to Institute class to Jennifer Voreis, thinking that he would maybe get a date from it, but Jennifer turned the tables on him and insisted that he would have to take Diane James along for the ride.  Pretty soon Jennifer was off to college and Dave and Diane kept the same schedule each week.  There was no turning back then, and with Rick's help, they started dating.  Their first date was to the bowling alley, which became a disaster when Diane threw the ball across two lanes and it stopped midway down the lane.  It seemed that things were looking grim, but they both persisted and were married at the Oakland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 7, 1975.  They moved to Utah, then California, Utah, Oregon and Utah, with Diane raising small children while Dave went to school and work.  In 1980 their first son, Benjamin David Brewer died in a tragic accident at the age of 18 months which brought significant heartache but some very special spiritual experiences.  They had had four daughters and one additional son to fill their home by 1983.

As the children grew in stature and maturity, Diane began to experience significant health problems throughout which caused regular pain and weakness.  Her seizure disorder worsened and became more uncontrollable, eventually resulting in a broken neck.  Soon after, we were informed of a new device to help control seizures, called the Vagus Nerve Stimulator.  Diane was one of the first patients to receive the device in Utah, and it was a life-changer.  From having major seizures weekly and being in the hospital almost monthly, she was almost completely seizure free.  Life was much more livable for her and she could finally enjoy many of the things that others might have taken for granted.  She was able to serve in the Family History Library and do significant research on her own family tree.  She organized numerous records, pictures, and letters for her family. Unfortunately her trials weren't over, and she continued to develop chronic issues that sapped her strength and vitality.  Nevertheless, she continued to put daily effort into her work, and continued to serve others unselfishly, especially the Lord and those in her own family.

She is survived by her husband, her children Chana Marie (Steve Briggs), Debra Ann (Shawn Church), Mary Clarissa (David Demunbrun), Rachel (Marty Gubler) and Jonathan James (Cheri Throckmorton), sisters; Mary Ann (Dean) Smiley, Mavis (Ken) Neeley, Linda Jo (Mark) Priestley, Christine (Paul) Anderson, Cathrine (Scott) Sampson, brothers Lynn, Tom, Mark, and Bruce, and 10 wonderful grandchildren: Steven Church, Gwyneth Briggs, Jaryl Briggs, Brittany Tregaskis, Ehlena Peabody, Ethan Demunbrun, Alex Gubler, Mikaila Gubler, Benjamin Brewer, and Jacob Brewer.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM in the Lehi 6th Ward Chapel, 200 South 200 West.  A viewing will be held from 9:00 to 10:30 AM prior to the service at the church.  Interment, Lehi City Cemetery.