
Tribute to Diana Clawson
Donation protected
Diana Best Clawson is just that, “best”. She has fought a battle against cancer for almost ten years, undergoing numerous surgeries, chemotherapy treatments and radiation. In all this, she has kept positive, cheerful, warm and outgoing. She has never lost her sense of humor. Her foremost request was that she would live long enough for the two grandchildren in her care to grow up and be able to make it without her motherly presence in their lives. God has been gracious. Taylor is grown and Taren is now a teenager. Even in her most difficult times, privately desiring a rest from all that the disease entails, she knew she needed to carry on for David and the girls. God faithfully sustained her. She and David have been able to celebrate 50 years of marriage together.
Diana is the most honest person I know, never hiding the traumas of her life, including her personal sins, but never blaming others. She knew as a child of God that she was forgiven and used the story of her life to share the gospel with everyone she met. And I do mean everyone. A stranger she encountered, a roofer working next door, her doctors, nurses, her relatives. Her bravery in sharing the gospel was amazing to see. Her direct honesty kept you honest as well. She wouldn’t let you waltz around the issue of sin, but confronted it straight on. Then, in love, gave an account of the hope which she had and which you could have as well.
I think this honesty is what made her an excellent counselor. She worked for years as a psychotherapist. Her listening skills were incredible, being able to discern the truth and address it. I discovered that as her friend. She shared with me that whenever she had patients needing toughness to confront their problems, she could give it directly without compromise. But she always included the need for knowing Christ to resolve their issues. This often brought her into conflict with her employers, but she refused to not offer this hope. She put into practice her belief, often accompanying people to the hospital and staying, unpaid, for 12 or more hours to assure they were properly cared for. If you were assigned to her care, she cared totally and completely for you. You wanted Diana on your side!
Diana kept up her counselor’s license as long as possible, with the last couple of years being too difficult and accepting that she wouldn’t ever be able to return to work. She knew she was a good therapist and the desire to help others strengthened her resolve to push on. God has continued to use her in the time she has spent with her family at home, being busy with neighborhood obligations, school associations and her church family. Until the last three months, since her brain cancer surgery, she has served others. Now she is ready to go home, to rest in the comfort and peace of eternity with Christ.
Many loving friends have asked how to help the family. We know there are expenses involving her care and ongoing expenses for the family. This is why we want to reach out and help financially to ease the burden and help provide for Taren and David’s needs in the future. Diana worked tirelessly on the mission field provided to her by Jesus, may we use the example of her life to glorify God in ours.
Diana is the most honest person I know, never hiding the traumas of her life, including her personal sins, but never blaming others. She knew as a child of God that she was forgiven and used the story of her life to share the gospel with everyone she met. And I do mean everyone. A stranger she encountered, a roofer working next door, her doctors, nurses, her relatives. Her bravery in sharing the gospel was amazing to see. Her direct honesty kept you honest as well. She wouldn’t let you waltz around the issue of sin, but confronted it straight on. Then, in love, gave an account of the hope which she had and which you could have as well.
I think this honesty is what made her an excellent counselor. She worked for years as a psychotherapist. Her listening skills were incredible, being able to discern the truth and address it. I discovered that as her friend. She shared with me that whenever she had patients needing toughness to confront their problems, she could give it directly without compromise. But she always included the need for knowing Christ to resolve their issues. This often brought her into conflict with her employers, but she refused to not offer this hope. She put into practice her belief, often accompanying people to the hospital and staying, unpaid, for 12 or more hours to assure they were properly cared for. If you were assigned to her care, she cared totally and completely for you. You wanted Diana on your side!
Diana kept up her counselor’s license as long as possible, with the last couple of years being too difficult and accepting that she wouldn’t ever be able to return to work. She knew she was a good therapist and the desire to help others strengthened her resolve to push on. God has continued to use her in the time she has spent with her family at home, being busy with neighborhood obligations, school associations and her church family. Until the last three months, since her brain cancer surgery, she has served others. Now she is ready to go home, to rest in the comfort and peace of eternity with Christ.
Many loving friends have asked how to help the family. We know there are expenses involving her care and ongoing expenses for the family. This is why we want to reach out and help financially to ease the burden and help provide for Taren and David’s needs in the future. Diana worked tirelessly on the mission field provided to her by Jesus, may we use the example of her life to glorify God in ours.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Whitaker
Organizer
Garland, TX
David Clawson
Beneficiary