Diane Smith Joens was raised in
Sierra Vista, Arizona, when it was still called Fry. As a child she waded in the
San Pedro River and picnicked with her family in the Huachuca Mountains. She
still enjoys exploring Arizona's mountains, canyons, valleys and rivers. Living
in the Verde Valley provides many opportunities to enjoy the fabulous outdoors.
Diane attended grade school in
Sierra Vista-Ft. Huachuca. Appreciating cultural diversity is a way of life for
Diane, who learned the three R's with a very diverse population of children from
all over the United States. Diane attended Buena High School in Sierra Vista. When she was 15 her parents moved to Iowa where she
finished high school and then married. She and her husband Paul farmed 15 years.
They raised corn, soybeans, hogs, chickens and Irish Setters. She missed the
bright sunny days of her childhood home, so they sold their farming operation
and moved to Cottonwood where they have lived for 22 years. Paul and Diane have been married 37
years. Their daughter, April Leigh, and sons, Davey (see
Memorial page)
and Timothy, are deceased.
During four years of service to the
Yavapai County Board of
Supervisors, Diane gained a comprehensive understanding of the intricate
workings of local government. Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis has
been an excellent mentor in local government leadership. Her past experience
also includes news reporting, banking, and loan processing. She administered
federally-regulated housing programs for the elderly and disabled at the
Verde Valley Manor and worked for
the Arizona Department of Economic Security's Family Assistance Division. Diane
is a state retiree. For 22
years Diane and Paul have owned a small Cottonwood-based business, High Desert
Landscaping. Diane's husband served in Vietnam (see
Veteran's page).
Diane has taken a variety of college courses at Iowa Western
Community College
and
Yavapai College. Diane started attending college
in the early '80s by driving 30 miles to Harlan, Iowa, from the farm she and her
family lived on outside of Manilla, Iowa. Her young son Davey was
so proud of his mom when she attended her first class. Diane is a life-long learner
and has taken classes in psychology, Spanish, creative writing, Planning &
Zoning, college
composition, business, marketing, supervision and computers. During her 22-year career, she was educated
and certified in determining eligibility for Arizona Department of Economic
Security programs and Department of Housing and Urban Development and Rural
Development housing programs.
She is a graduate of an intensive two-year
statewide University of Arizona leadership program, Project CENTRL, (Center for Rural
Leadership). Diane was editor and publisher of a community-based project for her CENTRL
internship, the Verde River
Almanac. A partnership between the University of Arizona and the non-profit
Center for Rural Leadership Foundation,
Project CENTRL prepares rural Arizonans for leadership positions in
government, agricultural and civic organizations.
Through Project CENTRL, Diane spent a week each in Louisiana
and Washington D.C. She saw New Orleans pre-Katrina. In Washington D.C. she visited Sen. John McCain and
Congressman Rick Renzi; the Departments of State, Interior and Agriculture;
Federal Reserve Board; Library of Congress; Canadian Embassy and U.S. Supreme
Court. Diane was honored to meet with then
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, an accomplished woman that she much
admires. Diane networks with 400 other Project CENTRL graduates throughout the state of Arizona. Many hold public office.
Taking her Standard Poodle, Tessa, for walks by the
Verde River is one of Diane's favorite
pastimes. She also enjoys spending time with her "adopted" grandchildren,
Stephanie and Katelynn. An avid amateur photographer, Diane attends many community activities
with camera in-hand. She has taken hundreds of pictures of the Verde River from
the headwaters to its confluence with the Salt River. Her river photos have been
used by a number of statewide organizations for their projects. Area newspapers have
published some of Diane's photos and articles. She especially enjoys writing
articles about people's lives and accomplishments, like the city of Cottonwood's
Spotlight on Volunteers series. Every person has a unique story to tell. She also enjoys reading and
writing about the Verde River.
Diane-Trivia: Diane's
aunt, Eunabelle Brewster and family, operated the Pine Springs Cafe on
Flagstaff's Route 66 in the early and mid-1960s. Diane occasionally visited her
aunt and cousins and helped in the restaurant. Her aunt's family also operated
the Ranch Kitchen in Sedona in the early '70s. The Ranch Kitchen was known for the best home
cooking--especially homemade pies--in the area at the time.
Featured
in Verde Independent's Women Today
