On April 8, 2026 Jesus called and told Diana Thomas that her mansion was ready. He met her at Heaven’s gate with open arms. Heaven didn’t gain an angel, there’s lots of those. It gained a princess and a prayer warrior.

“Princess” Diana Ross was born to Robert (Doug) and Helen Ross on April 26, 1960 in Grand Junction, Colorado. Growing up she enjoyed going to church, reading, and spending time with her sisters and brother. Being the oldest gave her a motherly instinct from a very young age; something she excelled at her whole life. Diana spent the better part of her childhood between Craig and Grand Junction. She graduated from Moffat County High School in 1978, one of the top ten students in her class.

In a world where she could do anything, Diana chose to be a servant of the Lord and a mother. She married Dale Vesely and together they had four children whom they loved and took on many adventures around Western Colorado and beyond. During the child-raising years you could find Diana every morning frantically getting the kids fed and ready for school. No matter how late they were (and they were often late) or however busy the morning, she always took the time to read the Bible and pray with her children before they went out the door. Diana’s story with Dale ended after 25 years, but through the transition she never lost her faith in the Lord. If anything it only grew stronger.

A few years later, Diana got reacquainted with Jeff Thomas, an old friend from years prior, and their friendship blossomed into lasting love. They were married on June 30, 2012 at the family cabin beneath the aspen trees and for the remainder of her time here they were inseparable. She loved his daughter and his grandchildren as her own.

Diana loved gardening and could often be found in her yard praying and talking to her plants. Through the years she worked at City Market, owned Serendipity Cafe, worked at Sam’s club, and Grand Valley Bank, but the jobs she held did not define who she was as a person. Her love for others did. The amount of love that Diana put into the world cannot adequately be put into words, and you can’t tell her story without Jesus. He worked through her in ways that most will never comprehend. She was an active member of the church and she had a voice that would make an angel stop to listen. When she sang in church, people felt it.

Diana is survived by her loving husband Jeff, her mother Helen (Stan) McPherson, sons Eli (Kassie) Vesely and Daniel Vesely, daughters Angela ( Andy) Grimes and Laura (Alicia) Vesely, four grandchildren, Christian Piona, Jeramiah Riley, Ryan Vesely and Zachariah Vesely, her sisters Karen(Harold) Brown, Teresa (Dean) Sundmark, Marla McPherson, Rebecca Ross, Charisse (Jeff) Anderson, brother Zane (Amelia) Giles, second mother Dana Ross, Jeff’s daughter Andrea (Kyle) and grandchildren Jayden,Taryn and Evan. There are too many nieces and nephews and cousins to name individually as doing so would read like the book of Numbers.

Diana will be dearly missed. She was met in heaven by her father Doug Ross, maternal grandparents Clarence and Marie Acree, paternal grandparents Clarence and Edith Ross, and her nephew Elijah Durrett. There will be a celebration of her life at CrossPoint Church 2697 US-50 Grand Junction, CO on her birthday April 26, 2026 at 4pm. Everyone who knew her is welcome.

Contributions in Diana’s memory can be made by praying for others and sharing love with those who are still here. And while Diana loved flowers, the family asks that if you feel compelled to get some, you give them to someone you love who is still alive and could use a little blessing. Diana no longer needs them. Where she’s at now the streets are paved with gold.