Dianne Lee Stoudemire, 63, of Spartanburg, SC passed away Monday, June 15, 2026, at Spartanburg Regional Hospital, following a brief illness.

Born on March 2, 1963, in Lewiston, Maine, Dianne was the daughter of Shirley Bradway Lee and the late Francis Lee.

Following high school, Dianne enlisted in the United States Army, where she proudly served as a Sergeant with the XVIII Airborne Corps and frequently worked alongside the 82nd Airborne Division. During her more than 10 years of military service, she was deployed to Grenada in support of Operation Urgent Fury in 1983. Her military career was marked by dedication, courage, and an unwavering commitment to serving her country.

Upon her completion in the military, she worked at Stouffers Manufacturing where she was instrumental in saving a co-worker’s life while on duty. Before returning to South Carolina, she spent several years working for the BNSF Railway in North Dakota, a company owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

Dianne will be remembered by family and friends for her wonderful sense of humor as well as one with a servant’s heart. She was always quick to lend a hand whether someone was facing a crisis or simply needed assistance with everyday tasks. She had a gift with animals and worked at several animal shelters and clinics as a veterinary surgery assistant.

One of Dianne’s earliest loves was a pony named Rudy. Caring for Rudy taught her compassion and responsibility and helped nurture a lifelong dedication to caring for animals, especially those that had been neglected or abandoned.

Dianne was predeceased by her father, Francis Lee. She is survived by her mother, Shirley Lee; her sisters, Vivianne Carey, Marianne Beck (Bryon) of Weddington, NC and Duffy Baehr (Dr. Troy Beavers); as well as several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 11am on Friday, July 10, 2026, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1320 Fernwood Glendale Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29307.

In leu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Spartanburg Humane Society, 150 Dexter Road, 29303, www.Spartanburghumane.org.