Diana Beth (Ring) Reeder

Diana Beth Ring Reeder, age 69, of Blackberry Drive, Morehead, Kentucky, passed peacefully into eternal joy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her loved ones.

Diana was born in Georgetown, Ohio, on July 9, 1954, the daughter of the late Eugene Douglas Ring and Imogene Burke Kubel Ring, who survives.  Diana grew up on her family’s dairy farm, where she played with cats in the barn, worked in tobacco, and showed calves at the county fair. 

She graduated from Georgetown High School in 1972, where she was a majorette in the marching band. She came to Morehead for college, earning degrees in business and political science from Morehead State University.  Diana remained in Morehead for the rest of her life, fully invested in the community, working as City Clerk for 32 years, serving alongside seven mayors, and retiring in 2012.

She was actively involved in community theatre for 30 years as a member of the Morehead Theatre Guild, first as a parent volunteer and later as a performer, designer, and director.  She also served in many capacities on the Guild’s Board of Directors, including multiple terms as the organization’s president.

A devoted member of Morehead’s First Baptist Church for more than 40 years, Diana served as a deacon, taught Sunday School, chaired the Administrative Work Group, worked on numerous committees, and directed the church’s children’s theatre ministry for more than 20 years.  In all of these endeavors, in the words of the prophet Micah, she did justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with God.

Diana loved children and animals and perhaps gardening most of all.  Unable to resist pulling weeds wherever she found them, she delighted in making things grow and surely knew that to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

In addition to her mother, Diana is survived by her husband James D. Reeder; her two daughters Miranda Lindsey Mayes (Thomas) and Megan Lindsey; her three grandchildren, Louis Burrey, Daisy Imogene Mayes, and Atlas Goldy; her brother Stephen Christopher Ring (Bunnie); her niece Lauren Cardarelli (Nick); her nephews Joel Ring (Meghan) and Jeremy Ring, as well as cousins, co-workers, neighbors, and friends.

Special appreciation is extended to those who cared so devotedly for her in her last illness, including the oncology physicians and staff at St. Claire HealthCare and the UK Markey Cancer Center as well as Kathy Knight and her team of caregivers, including Tiffany Hughes, Emey Krywczak, and Yvonne Holifield.

Diana’s family will receive friends during visitation at Northcutt and Son Home for Funerals on Friday, March 22, from 5 to 8 p.m.  Funeral services will be conducted by the Reverend Aaron Coyle-Carr at First Baptist Church, 123 E. Main St., Morehead on Saturday, March 23, at 3 p.m. An additional hour of visitation is scheduled at the church beginning at 2 p.m.

Interment will follow at Lee Cemetery.  Pallbearers include Chris Ring, Joel Ring, Jeremy Ring, Thomas Mayes, Glen Teager, and Larry Dixon.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.  Causes that Diana especially favored are Sandy Hook Promise, STAR, the ASPCA, St. Jude, and First Baptist Church.

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