Obituary of Douglas F. Diez

Douglas F. Diez, age 68, of Ransomville, died peacefully surrounded by his family, on Saturday May 31, 2014 in the Niagara Hospice House in Lockport, after a long illness. Doug was born August 6, 1945 in Niagara Falls, NY, the son of the late Frank P. and Francis L. (Swick) Diez. He was a 1963 graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School, and in 1964 began a 37 year career at Harrison-Radiator in Lockport. He retired in 2001 as Receiving Operations Supervisor. In 1996, he received his Associate's Degree in Business Management from Niagara County Community College. During his tenure at Harrison-Radiator, Doug was named as a top ten Supervisor on three different occasions. After his retirement, he drove a school bus for Ransomville Bus Lines for 11 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown and a former member of the Ransomville United Methodist Church, where he spent 23 years a Certified Lay Leader. Doug was also a member of Alpha Beta Gamma, an international business honor society; past president and member of the Ransomville Free Library; past president and member of the Lewiston-Porter Alumni Assoc.; and a member of the Ransomville Business Assoc. In 2007, the Chamber of Commerce named Doug the Town of Porter Citizen of the Year. Doug was also a member of the Ransomville Cruisers Car Club. He had taken part in the Richard Petty, the Rusty Wallace, and the Ferrari Experiences. On April 11, Doug celebrated 50 years of marriage to Connie (Campbell) Diez. In addition to Connie, he is survived by his children, Suzanne Cassick of Youngstown, Douglas Stuart Diez of Cape Canaveral, FL, and Jeremy Diez (fiancé` Audrey Erickson) of Peoria, AZ; his grandchildren, Benjamin and Serena Cassick, Troy and Aurora Diez; two sisters, Shirley Woolard of Indianapolis, IN and Sandra (David) Guzewich of Bel Air, MD; and a sister in law, Sue Diez of Cape Canaveral, FL. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard "Rick" Diez and his brother in law, Lester Woolard. Friends may call at HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Road, Ransomville on Thursday from 7 - 9 PM and Friday from 4 - 8 pm. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, June 7, at 11:00 AM in the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, 100 Church St., Youngstown, with the Rev. Rex Stewart and the Rev. Charles Lamb officiating. Burial in Oakland Rural Cemetery, Youngstown, will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Dr., Lockport, NY 14094, the Lewiston Volunteer Fire Co. #1 Ambulance Fund, 145 N. 6th St. P.O. Box 748, Lewiston, NY 14092, the Ransomville Free Library, P.O. Box 280, Ransomville, NY 14131 or to the Lewiston-Porter Alumni Assoc., 4061 Creek Rd., Youngstown, NY 14174.