Diane Stegall Lambert

Diane Stegall Lambert, age 75 of Friendsville, passed away early Saturday morning, October 8th, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center after a brief battle with cancer. She was born in El Dorado, Arkansas to John and Nila Stegall, and moved to Oak Ridge, TN with her family in 1962, at the age of 15. She worked at the Union Carbide Corporation/Martin Marietta/Bechtel Jacobs at the K-25, Y-12, and ORNL Facilities in Oak Ridge for many years. She became enamored with the bus driver on her route to work each day, and eventually married him in 1970, becoming a loving wife and step-mother to three young children. Diane was known for her “bloom where you’re planted” attitude. She served as president of the neighborhood watch, but mostly because she was so nosy. She could grow the best watermelons, make the best tomato sandwiches, and bribe nearly anyone to do anything by giving them a bag of her homemade party Chex Mix recipe called “nuts n’bolts”. She could tell the most audacious jokes, and attempt to absolve herself by claiming she was “just a little old lady”. She is preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Billy H. Lambert, her parents, John Freeman & Nila Geneva Stegall, her brother Paul Dennis Stegall, sisters Jane Marie King and Susan Elaine Kearns, and step-son Gary Lambert. 

She is survived by her sister, Pam Stegall of Oak Ridge, TN; her brother, David Stegall of Corpus Christi, TX; step-daughter, Barbara (Charlie) Russell; step-son Wesley (Darlene) Lambert; her grandson Chad (Donna) Lambert; granddaughters Traci (Ryan) Dubuque, Charla (Cody) McPeake; great-grandchildren Gunner McPeake, Evan, Grayson, Liam, and Ansleigh Lambert, and Emma, Jaxson, and Olivia Dubuque; and beloved daughter-in-law, “Gailene”. The family would like to thank the wonderful nursing staff and medical providers at Blount Memorial Hospital and the University of Tennessee Medical Center for their compassionate care, and the Alcoa Walmart Supercenter, for their company as she roamed the aisles on a daily basis (especially on days when the new magazines were stocked).

 A memorial service for friends and family will be held at a later date. An expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to the Blount Memorial Foundation (general fund) at www.blountmemorialfoundation.org.