Diane T (Taylor) Olson Obituary (1934

On September 1, 2015, Diane T. Olson, a widely known child care administrator, consultant, and advocate, passed away at her home in Gig Harbor surrounded by members of her family. Born Diane Taylor in Seattle on January 30, 1934, she spent part of her childhood near Bremerton before moving with her family to Everett. At Everett High School, she met and began to date Frank Olson, who was one year ahead of her. After graduation, he went to Yale College, she went to Wellesley College, and they were married between her junior and senior years. After she graduated from Wellesley, Diane had four children in five years while Frank served in the Navy and established a career as a Certified Public Accountant in Seattle. In 1961 the family moved to Othello, Washington, where Frank became a partner in the firm of Quinn and Calahan. In Othello, Diane helped organize a day care center for the children of migrant farmworkers with funding from the federal Office of Economic Opportunity. As her expertise in childcare grew, she became involved with Washington Citizens for Migrant Affairs, began training teachers in other day care centers, and served as a consultant to migrant day care programs around the country. She and Frank also had a busy social life, highlighted by their participation in plays, musical performances, the activities of the Presbyterian Church, and the square dancing they had done together since high school. In 1972 the family moved to Gig Harbor, where Frank became a partner in the firm of Simonson, Moore, Seelye, and Olson. In Gig Harbor, Diane directed, worked, and consulted with several childcare organizations, served on the Board of Directors for the Peninsula School District for 15 years, became a trainer of trainers for childcare providers, served on the Washington State Child Care Coordinating Committee and the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, and was active with Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, including leadership of a Bible study program. In 1985 she earned a master's degree in day care administration from Bank Street College in New York City. She traveled widely and was a delegate on a trip to China of early childhood educators led by the wife of Washington State's governor. Her beloved husband Frank died in 1997. Diane is survived by her sons, Steve and Rick, and her daughter, Lisa; two granddaughters of her deceased son Dave, Cassie and Sammy Jo; six other grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter, Addison. A celebration of her life will be held at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church at 1:30pm on September 26, 2015. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to World Vision International. World Vision34834 Weyerhaeuser Way S, Federal Way WA 98001Tel: 1-253-815-1000Web: http://www.worldvision.org