DIANE LOWE FERGUSON, 78, of Basye, VA, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, at the Winchester Medical Center on May 9, 2017, after a short illness.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold Martin Lowe and Kathryn Dunn Lowe.

She is survived by her son, James Cameron Ferguson, III; his wife, Pamela Cluff Ferguson; his son, Cameron Wesley Ferguson; and his daughter, MacKenzie Ann Ferguson, all of Bend, OR.  Also surviving are her son, Reed Martin Ferguson and his son, James Cameron Murphy Ferguson, both of Oxnard, CA.  Diane is also survived by her former daughter-in-law, Janice Wight Ferguson; and Diane's partner of almost 30 years, Robert Patrick (Pat) Murphy.

Diane was born in Pittsburg, PA, on July 11, 1938.  For the first eight years of her life, she lived in Mt. Lebanon, PA.  She then moved to Warren, PA, where she lived until age 14 and considered it her home.  The family then moved to Summit, NJ.  After graduating from Summit High School, she matriculated at Kathryn Gibbs Secretarial School in New York City, and after graduating worked for Alcoa Steamship Company, also in New York City.  She married a West Point graduate in 1959, thus beginning her 25 years as an Army wife.  During this time, she lived in many parts of the United States and for eight years in Germany.

Diane had an abiding interest in history.  Moving 25 times in 25 years, Diane was able to serve as a docent in different historical venues, including the Robert E. Lee childhood home in Alexandria, VA, and twice at Constitution Island, an island in the Hudson River opposite West Point.  She had been a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for over 50 years and a member of the Greene, Warren, and Washington County, PA, historical societies.  Diane joined the Shenandoah County Historical Society in 2004, was a member of the board of directors from 2005 until her death and served as treasurer from 2007-2014.  Her interest in history led her to publish a book of family history in 2016, The Saga of George McKelvey, Sr., and His Family.

In 1987, Diane met her partner, R. Patrick (Pat) Murphy and in 1992 they built a home in Shenandoah County, where they moved full-time in 2004.  Diane was extraordinarily generous, and besides contributing to organizations preserving our nation's history, she contributed to organizations benefiting veterans and the hungry.

Diane was interred in the Lottsville Cemetery in Lottsville, PA, on May 12, 2017, where she joined many of her family.

Although blue was Diane's favorite color, it was never her favorite mood.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.