Editor's Note: We were bereft to learn about Diane's passing on Dec. 28. She has been an integral part of the DMA and KDRT communities for 20+ years. This obituary was wriiten by Diane's brother-in-law, Bill Buchanan. This is the GoFundMe he references.
UPDATE JAN. 5: A celebration of her life has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, in the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge. More details to come.
Diane Crumley, who saw creativity in nature all around her, earned a PhD in anthropology, and worked or volunteered for several Yolo County nonprofits during more than two decades in Davis, died Dec. 28, 2025 at 68 from cancer.
Born in 1957, Diane earned a bachelor’s in biological anthropology from the University of California Los Angeles in 1986 and her doctorate from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in 2000. She was an accomplished grants writer and was a research associate at the UNM Medical School's Cancer Research and Treatment Center.
Diane moved to Davis in 2004. Among other projects, she helped build Davis community radio station KDRT 95.7 FM, particularly in areas of fund-raising, outreach, and planning concerts and events. She was a member of the board for Tree Davis. She worked for Davis Media Access, and was previously employed by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District, Team Davis, and the California Native Grasslands Association.”
She is survived by Jim Buchanan, her husband of 29 years; her mother, Dawn Crumley of Davis; her sister Jill Robins and niece Jenna Robins, both of Glendale; her brother- and sister-in law, Bill Buchanan and Kathryn Monroe of Davis, and their children Megan Buchanan of San Francisco and Eliza Buchanan (Alex Gordon) of Alameda; and many friends in Yolo County and Southern California.
Plans for a celebration of her life are in the works. A GoFundMe has been established to help support Jim during this time.
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Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that Diane had cancer and passed away a few days ago. I did not know she was ill. I met her through my work with Putah Creek Council and Yolo County RCD. We shared a love of 60s and 70s music (we were the same age), nature, conservation, the southwest, and animals of all kinds. I enjoyed her creativity and respected her devotion to her parents. My sincere condolences to her husband and mother.
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