Diana Lynn (Dominguez) Jarrett

Diana “Dee” Jarrett, 73, of Waco entered the Kingdom of Heaven on January 4, 2023 at her home, with her family by her side.  Her last words were as always, “I love you.” A Celebration of her life will be 11 am, Saturday, January 14th at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.  The family will host a reception at the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium following the service.

She is survived by her loving husband, James; her son Jeffrey, his wife Greta, and grandchildren, Jude, Annalise, and Esmerée; her son Michael, his wife Kendal, and grandchildren, Taylor Marie and Austin Leigh.

She was small in stature, but a giant in personality, kindness, and love for all who were blessed to have known her.  Dee was born on October 14, 1949 to Eloy and Socorro Dominguez in Los Angeles, California.  She had two older brothers, Mike and Ron, who with her parents, doted on little Dee. With two brothers, she grew up loving, not dolls and tea parties, but sports and baseball cards.  Most of all she shared a love of the newly transplanted, Los Angeles Dodgers with her father.  Later, her love of sports evolved into a love for camping, the outdoors, and water-skiing.  Many summers were spent on the shores of Bass Lake and the campgrounds of Ducey’s.

Dee was smart and progressed well through her studies.  She graduated from Southgate High School and would later receive her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Long Beach State, becoming the first in her family to receive a four-year degree.  Later she would receive her Master’s degree from St. Thomas University.  While at Long Beach State, Dee met the love of her life, James Jarrett.  On December 20, 1969, they were wed and recently celebrated their 53rd anniversary.

Throughout her life, her passion was educating children.  Dee spent over 30 years as an elementary school teacher in Long Beach, California.  Thousands of children were blessed to have learned the joy of reading in Mrs. Jarrett’s classroom.  She emphasized kindness, good citizenship, and personal responsibility.  Mrs. Jarrett was the teacher that her students remembered years and decades later.  She’s been invited to weddings, received birth announcements, and letters from students who emphasized the life changing impact that she had on their lives.

On May 14, 1976, Dee became a mother to Jeffrey and Michael.  Her twin boys were her life from that moment on.  As babies, Mike and Jeff learned to swim in those same waters at Bass Lake.  Summers water-skiing, camping, and enjoying family and friends filled her life.  When the boys grew up, sports once again became a focus in Dee’s life.  Dee was an avid runner and rarely missed a morning jog.  She ran races with Jim and the boys on the weekend.  She even finished the Long Beach Marathon!  Dee watched countless baseball and soccer games.  When Mike and Jeff were in high school, she never missed a cross country meet or a wrestling match!

Upon retirement, Jim and Dee ignited their love for travel.  They spent many months on the road in their shiny new RV seeing all the sights of America.  Later, their passion for international travel let them to all seven continents having traveled to places like: Russia, China, Europe, the Galapagos Islands, Africa, South America, and even Antarctica!

Dee’s love for sports focused on the Baylor Bears in retirement.  She rarely missed a Bears game and saw the Baylor Women’s Basketball team cut down the nets for NCAA Championships in 2005, 2012, and 2019.  She served as a board member and President of the Tip Off Club supporting Lady Bear Basketball.

Yet, nothing defined Dee more than the love for her family and her grandchildren.  Dee was blessed to have two wonderful ladies join the Jarrett family in 2011.  Kendal and Michael were married in March and Greta and Jeff were married in November.  On December 14, 2011, her first granddaughter, Taylor was born.  Soon, Jude, Analise, Austin, and Esmerée joined the family.  Dee played an invaluable role in raising, nurturing, and teaching all of her grandchildren.  Her countless projects, paintings, and needlepoint crafts are daily reminders of her love.

She lived an exceptional life, one that we can all emulate.  She loved unconditionally, lived joyously, and believed faithfully in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The world is a more beautiful place because of the light her life shined.  We will all miss her dearly.

Registry for Dee Jarrett