On May 12, 2026, Diane Norton Black passed away at the age of 76 years old.  She was preceded by her husband of 46 years, Bill, her mother Louise, and her father Charles.  Her memory will live on in those she left behind, including her three brothers (David, John, and Jim), her three children (Stephen, Aimee, and Kristin), their spouses, and seven grandchildren.

A VERY informal celebration of life will be held on May 22, 2026 at 6pm at Hurricane Community Church, her church home for over 70 years. For those choosing to attend, please bring any used or new books to donate to the Little Free Libraries, and per mom's request, wear Birkenstocks if you have them.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Johnson County Public Library or the Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County.

Please note the "VERY informal remembrance" as that is the beginning to understanding our mom.  She only allowed a remembrance if we disallowed tears and required both the sharing of stories and candy corn, her favorite sweet treat.  She was the woman of a million stories, and she was the center of most of them.  One of her dear friends once said of her, "You always know when Diane entered the room."  She had a presence.  You didn't have to guess where she stood on a topic or where you stood with her, and there was something beautiful about that.  Her faith was as deep as the well on Crystal Springs Farm, her childhood home.  And in her faith she embodied Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Her hope was in Jesus, and if you asked her, she would gladly tell you about Him.

She loved books, cheesecake, Hurricane Community Church (the building and the people), her community, the farm, rides in the country, breaking bread, her book club, her husband, kids, extended family, and most of all, her grandkids.  They were so very special to her.  Each of them, individually, was her favorite.

She was born on October 18, 1949 in Palo Alto, CA.  In 1954, the family moved to the family farm, where Diane would spend the majority of the next 70 years of life.  After graduating from Franklin High School in 1967, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Indiana Central College.  In 1971, she married William "Bill" Lee Black, a man she had known for just two months and would become the love of her life. Shortly after, they moved to North Hurricane Road, where they would start a family and spend the rest of their days.  She worked in various roles at Franklin College from 1995 to 2016.  She also spent 16 years serving on the Franklin Community School Corporation Board of Trustees. She was the consummate servant leader, serving on more boards than can be accounted for.  To that end, Leadership Johnson County developed the annual Diane Black Servant Leader Award.  She herself received more awards than can be remembered:  1998 Franklin Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year, 1999 nominee for the Franklin College Staff Service Award, 1999 Indiana School Boards Association Outstanding School Board Member of the Year, 2017 Inductee to the Franklin Community Schools Hall of Fame, 2023 Library Champion Volunteer of the Year, and on and on. But chiefly and superbly, she was Mom.

Though she had three biological children, she had hundreds of informally adopted sons and daughters of all ages, who all felt at ease thinking of her as Mom.  She listened.  She challenged.  She told you things you didn't want to hear.  And she hugged you and welcomed the next conversation. It's inexpressible to note how she will be missed.  Yet, given her impact on this community and all who came in contact with her, you likely knew her or knew someone who did.  Her impact was tremendous, and her legacy lives on through all those she touched.  To quote the author Hunter S. Thompson, "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming, 'Wow, what a ride!!'"  We miss you, Mom.  See you later.

Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN is handling the arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com.  Information 317-738-0202.

Services will be live-streamed at: https://youtube.com/live/v8Pwcut6PJg?feature=share