Diana Mills Powell's Obituary
Sadly, Diana Kaye Mills Powell, 82, of Davis, California, passed away on July 6, 2025 after a brief illness. She was lovingly cared for by her three daughters until the end. Diana had a big heart, loved to laugh, always remembered people’s names, and was a friend to everyone she met.
Diana, a proud 4th-generation native Californian, was born in 1943 to Doris “Sam” McCluskey Mills and Edward Alfred Mills, at the Mare Island Naval Hospital. The family lived in naval housing for several years until moving to their forever home in San Lorenzo in 1948. Diana spent her childhood summers exploring and camping in Big Sur with her family, including her sister Andre, which permanently instilled in her a deep love of exploring and camping. She was also an enthusiastic and loyal SF Giants fan, from a family of Giants fans - passed down from her mother, Sam, and on to her daughter Laura.
An excellent student, Diana skipped a grade and graduated early, eventually getting a job working as a keypuncher at Standard Oil in San Francisco. There she met fellow employee Larry Lazzarini, whom she married in 1962. They made their home in San Francisco and soon welcomed two daughters, Laura and Carla. The marriage ended in 1967, and Diana went on to have many adventures, near (the music scene in late ‘60s SF) and far (extended travel to Europe).
One of these adventures, and her love of nature, brought her to Tuolumne County, California, where she met Daniel Powell. They soon discovered that they were both from the same small town and had grown up just one mile away from each other. They married in 1976, and daughter Molly was born soon after. Music, live and recorded, mostly (but not only) jazz, was a big part of the three of their lives together. Diana and Dan eventually went their separate ways, but remained close for the rest of her life.
Almost always, Diana had a dog by her side. She often adopted senior dogs and was able to give them many more happy years. Whether they were at home or camping in the Sierras, Death Valley, or any of the many other places she loved, it was always “a girl and her dog.”
Diana was a skilled photographer, getting her first camera, a Kodak Brownie, when she was 8 years old, and learning to develop the film with her father in their backyard shed darkroom. Photography was always a big part of her life - she had a great eye for landscape photography and loved taking pictures of her grandchildren.
After a long career in banking, Diana eventually retired and moved to Davis, California, in 2007, where she became part of a tight-knit community. She formed deep bonds with her neighbors, who became good friends, and then, like a second family. Diana was very grateful for this support network when, in 2022, she tragically lost her home and most of her belongings in a fire. Luckily, the home’s three residents, Diana, her beloved dog Sugar, and her sweet cat Buster (after a long struggle) survived. She was a fiercely independent woman, and was overwhelmed and humbled by the generous and loving support that rallied around her during this difficult time.
Diana was survived by her daughters, Laura Lazzarini, Carla Lazzarini, and Molly Powell; sister Andre Rivers and her wife Carly; grandchildren, Kevin Cannon and his wife Erika, Jake Barradas, Julia Garcia and her husband Brian, Isabella Nelson and her husband Andrew, and Allison Acero; and her great-grandchildren Ava and Camille Cannon.
If so moved, please donate to the ASPCA or the National Audubon Society in Diana’s name
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