Diann Titus Shields

Diann Titus Shields, 83, died peacefully in her sleep on October 6, 2022, at her home in Gotha, Florida due to complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Diann was the fourth of five children born to Bliss Eugene Titus and Leda Elizabeth (Murri) Titus on January 25, 1939 in Heber City, Utah.

Diann loved growing up in the Heber Valley surrounded by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. She was at home in those mountains and often referred to the mountains and especially Mt. Timpanagos as “her mountains”. She maintained a hideaway in the Unita Mountains for many years where she spent many happy summers. She excelled in academics and graduated from Wasatch High School in 1957. Growing up she became a proficient piano player and an expert in rifle marksmanship, a skill learned from her father.

Upon graduation from High School, Diann attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah on scholarship where she graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She then moved to Inglewood, California and taught elementary school. After two years in California, Diann returned to Brigham Young University to work on her Master’s Degree in Education which she received in 1966.

It was at BYU that she met a young Floridian named Roger Shields who just happened to be passing through Provo in the summer of 1965. The two fell in love and began a one-year, long-distance courtship with Diann teaching at Sharon Elementary School in Orem, Utah while Roger began his Studies for his PHD in economics at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Roger and Diann were married in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 25, 1966. It was the beginning of an adventure that would lead them to living in Charlottesville, Virginia; Austin, Texas; Santa Barbara, California; Arlington, Virginia; Short Hills, New Jersey and finally, Gotha, Florida. During those moves, she taught school at the Venable School in Charlottesville as well as the Casis School in Austin. Diann found great joy in all of these different places. She was always able to find the positives in each place she lived.

Diann was the mother to two sons, Randy and Brock. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother. She always said that her commitments in life were to God, family and her country. She was a lifelong active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in multiple capacities in the Church throughout her life including consecutive terms as the regional leader of the young women’s organization as well as the leader of the Women’s auxiliary. She also ensured that she supported her husband and sons in their many activities as well.

Diann was very active in community affairs. She was especially proud of her role as chair of the managing committee of the Visiting Nurse Organization of Short Hills, NJ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Russell Emery (Victoria) Titus, Stella (Hal) Fowkes, Reba Titus and Maryan (Robert) Hansen, and a grandson Grant Douglas Shields. She is survived by her husband Roger Shields, sons Randy and Brock (Sunni) Shields and three grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 1:15 PM at the Heber City Cemetery in Heber City, Utah.