"Mary" Diane Conroy Jansen

(Mary) Diane Conroy Jansen passed away on March 4, 2019 at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Reverend Mark Marston of First United Methodist Church prayed over her as her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Don Cotton, held her hand. Diane endured a month-long battle with COPD and community acquired pneumonia. She was born in Powell, Wyoming on April 3, 1942. Diane later lived in Worland, WY; Newgulf, TX; and Darien, CT; following her father’s transfers with Texas Gulf Sulphur. After her high school graduation, Diane began studies at Simmons College in Boston, MA. In 1965, she graduated with honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. She began her career in nursing at Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX where she became a Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist for the world famous heart surgeon, Denton Cooley. Diane moved to Green River, WY in the 1970’s to be near her parents. She was married and had two children with late husband, Paul Jansen, whom she divorced in 1989. She later began working for the State of Wyoming as the County Health Nurse for Sweetwater County. Diane liked to play bridge, cribbage, Scattegories and Tripoley. After retirement in 2000, she moved to Cheyenne, WY to be near her daughter and family. Diane was an amazing grandmother who loved to babysit, read and create art with Katie Cotton, and loved her visits and video chats with Max and Milo Jansen. She was an active member of the XJWC women’s group and participated in Bunco. She drove herself to get her hair done every Thursday by Annalise Snyder of Ecliptz and to her pulmonary therapy. Diane enjoyed dining at Red Lobster, Village Inn and Texas Roadhouse. Her three favorite places to visit were Barnes & Noble, the library and the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens – where she will have a paver made in her memory. But what Diane enjoyed the most was reading. Her favorite authors included Linda Lael Miller, Amanda Cabot and Robyn Carr.
Diane is survived by her children: daughter Karen Cotton, husband Don Cotton and granddaughter Katie Cotton of Cheyenne, WY; son Erik Jansen, wife Katie Jansen, and grandsons Max and Milo Jansen of Brooklyn, NY, brothers Charles Conroy of Green River, WY; Dennis Conroy of Kemmerer, WY and Richard Bennion of Charlotte, NC; and Craig Bennion, Laura, Gabe and Akila Kofidza, and Joe and Roxy Conroy.
A celebration of life service and reception will be held on March 30th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at First United Methodist Church: 108 E. 18th Street, Cheyenne, WY with Reverend Mark Marston presiding.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation in Diane's honor to:
Cheyenne Animal Shelter, 800 Southwest Dr., 82007 • cheyenneanimalshelter.org