Diane Mankin

A Sister Says So Long For Now, Not Goodbye

My sister, Diane, stepped out of time into eternity February 28, 2024 from her home in Santa Fe,New Mexico.

Diane Elaine (Cearfoss) Mankin entered time on December 31, 1956She was born to Jo Ann (Barr) Cearfoss Brinkman and Alden Clark “Ike” Cearfoss in Ottawa,Kansas. Diane would hold dear her time with friends and experiences growing up in Ottawa,Kansas. Diane graduated from Ottawa High School in 1974. For all her life, she consideredOttawa her hometown. To say my sister was a Jayhawk fanatic would be an understatement. Shereceived her Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate at the University of Kansas and stayed loyal toKU even during her time with the University of Cincinnati where she was a tenured Professor inArt History.

In her retirement, she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she met a new set of friends shecared for greatly and enjoyed the climate and community. One of her more recentaccomplishments was caring for her mother, JoAnn, who had reached a point that living alonewas not safe. She helped mom through so much, including dementia, and allowed her to die inher home with Diane nearby on August 1st, 2023.

My sister had an infectious laugh endearing even the most stoic of people. We shared an intenselove for animals, especially Tinkerbelle, her Tink. No doubt Tink mourns not knowing where shehas gone but is settling in with her canine cousins like a champ. To know my sister is to knowthrough the years of physical struggles, even to living each day with pain, she would findcomfort in films. You might say she was born late in time considering that she insisted therewere some films just too magical to ever be re-made. So, you might say she was somewherebetween Gone With The Wind and Ben Hur.

As I think in terms of this temporary so-long to her, she leaves behind a “step sister and stepbrother”, Diane Moses and David Brinkman, but mostly me, Lynda (Cearfoss) Leazure.

Diane, I know there are many who truly loved you even when life took you and others indifferent pursuits. Already the Class of 74 will be a bit more somber at its 50th reunion soon to beheld without you, but I know there will be a candle lighted for you reminding all how when youentered a room you brightened your surroundings.