Dianne D. Blocker, age 77, of Portland, passed away on May 9th, 2024 at Northcrest Medical Center in Springfield. Mrs. Blocker was born in Columbia, TN on July 31st, 1946 to the late Jake Riley Dellinger & the late Peggy Goad-Dellinger.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Blocker was preceded in death by her son, Will Blocker.
Mrs. Blocker is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Dr. Don Blocker; brother, Randall (Jane) Dellinger of Myrtle Beach; three daughters, Beth (Perry) Rosenberg of Nashville, Cindi (Derris) Brown of Portland, & Kim (Jack) Rosser of New Mexico; grandchildren, Lauren Grude of Dickson, Kristen (Brandon) Finn of Portland, Richard (Tyler) Rosenberg of New York, Ben (Sofie) Rosenberg of Denver, Colorado, Betsy (Sebastian) Rosenberg of Chattanooga, Noah Rosser of Spokane, Washington, Hannah Rosser and Landon Rosser of New Mexico; great grandchildren, Ethan West of Portland, Kynslee Gilpin of Portland, Copeland Cooke of Dickson, Rennick Finn of Portland, & Campbell Grude of Dickson; great-great granddaughter, Katherine Rose West.
Dianne was raised in Columbia, TN where she discovered a love of playing piano at the age of 9. This love of playing music would lead her to the high school band where she met the love of her life. A shared seat on a bus for a band trip would lead to her becoming a wife to Don not long after she finished high school. She and Don traveled the world with their young children as he served in the military before they eventually settled in Portland, TN. Here she would spend the next 50 plus years growing a family that she loved fiercely until her last breath. She became a faithful member of McKendree Memorial United Methodist Church where every Sunday morning for over thirty years the sanctuary became filled with her talent and gift to her church, beautiful piano melodies for the congregation to sing hymns to. She sang in the choir, played in the handbell choir, and gave her heart to her Savior in the church she loved so much. She was a Master Gardener for over 30 years and being outside in her gardens was healing for her in many ways. Her countless hours nurturing and growing her own gardens won her several beautification awards over the years. She also used her love of gardening to bring beauty to public gardens for others to enjoy. Her most beloved garden, Will’s Garden, was started by Dianne after the loss of her son to bring beauty amid pain and it has served as the backdrop for thousands of people over the years for photos of special life events that will be cherished for generations to come. She loved volunteering her time making her home, her town, and the world more beautiful. She served as Queen Mother of her Red Hat Society group that she founded in 2003 and she cherished the friendships she formed with her Red Hat ladies. One of her greatest joys was being a grandmother, a great grandmother, and a great-great grandmother. She loved taking care of her family, feeding her hummingbirds, cooking for every occasion and for no occasion at all, knitting prayer shawls for friends and baby blankets for the newest additions of her family, watching her favorite sports, and sitting on the deck with Don. She lived a sweet and ordinary life that leaves an extraordinary legacy behind for those who knew her and loved her. May we always feel her near when we see the most beautiful flowers and hummingbirds.
Funeral service for Mrs. Blocker will be at 4:00 pm on Monday, May 13th, 2024 at McKendree Memorial United Methodist Church with Reverend Steven Vanhooser officiating.
Visitation for Mrs. Blocker will be on Sunday, May 12th, 2024 from 4:00 until 8:00 pm at Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home and on May 13th, 2024 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm (service time) at McKendree Memorial United Methodist Church.
Interment will be in Old Brush Cemetery.
Derris Brown, Brandon Finn, Richard Rosenberg, Ben Rosenberg, Ethan West, and Noah Rosser will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Will’s Garden at McKendree Memorial United Methodist Church-208 Wheeler Street in Portland, TN 37148.
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