Roll Call Tribute

Diane Dugan Hotchkiss
September 16, 1974 - May 12, 2022

Diane Dugan Hotchkiss, 47, went home to Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 12, 2022, in Houston, Texas after courageously battling cancer with grace and poise for over seven years.

Diane was born in Galveston, Texas, on September 16, 1974, to Dr. John Thomas Dugan II and Susan McAdams Dugan, who preceded Diane in death in 2001. Diane was the second of four siblings: Michelle Dugan Harris of Sugar Land, Texas; Dr. John Thomas Dugan III of Houston, Texas; and Sean Haskell Dugan of Katy, Texas. Diane grew up in Corpus Christi, TX, and was a graduate of Carroll High School and of Texas A&M University where she was a member of Chi Omega.

During her time at Texas A&M University, she met her husband and love of her life, Michael Jared Hotchkiss, while attending Breakaway, a large college Bible study ministry. They married on June 7, 1997 and would celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in a few weeks. Diane and Michael were best friends and deeply in love. God blessed Diane and Michael with four treasured children – Susannah Grace Hotchkiss, William Dugan Hotchkiss, Bethany Shirley Hotchkiss, and Hope Louise Hotchkiss all of Cypress, Texas.

After graduation, Diane taught elementary school for four years before “retiring” to raise her four children. Diane was passionate about her family and being a mom was one of her highest callings. The love she has for each of her kids is unending. She cultivated unique and powerful relationships with each of her four children that was rooted in friendship, safety and respect. Diane loved to have fun and while with family it was common to see Diane snow skiing, wake surfing, fishing, hiking, running, cooking, traveling, or anything else as long as the six of them were together. She had a sneaky sweet tooth for candy, especially Mike & Ike’s, Halloween pumpkins, cinnamon jelly hearts, and Reese’s.

Those who first met Diane were often struck by her natural beauty, but the most radiant part of her was her inner beauty of selflessness, strength, sweetness and joy which was a reflection of her Savior Jesus. Diane’s mission in life was to love God and love others. Throughout her life, she was the chaplain in her sorority, a Young Life leader, a home Bible study leader, led several mission trips, and most recently a Bible Study Fellowship leader and young couples small group leader.

She was known for her gentle and sweet spirit, but was bold and powerful in the ways she served others. In her seven-year cancer battle that involved two brain surgeries, dozens of radiation treatments and years of chemo she was focused on others’ needs and not her own. That could show up in late night homework sessions with kids, ministering to other families in need or boldly loving a good friend. While Diane did not get many years on this earth, she leaves a fruitful legacy and those who shared life with her were blessed. She has shown us how to live and suffer, how to die with faith and not fear, with courage and not complaints, with trust and love, with peace and victory.

Visitation with friends will be on Wednesday May 18, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Klein Funeral Home (16131 Champion Forest Dr. Spring, TX 77379). Diane’s Celebration of Life service will be on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at The MET Church (13000 Jones Rd., Houston, TX. 77070) with reception to follow. Interment will be for family only.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Young Life at www.younglife.org, or Breakaway Ministries at http://www.breakawayministries.org.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Diane’s entire team at MD Anderson in Houston, TX for their loving care of the many years.