Diane Kuster Shugart

Diane Kuster Shugart, 81, passed away on December 4, 2022. She was born on April 20, 1941 in St. Helena, California. Diane grew up in Calistoga. While in college at UC Davis, she met Robert Shugart and they were later married. In 1968, Bob and Diane moved to Ukiah with their infant daughter, Kendall. A year later, their son Jason was born. Their family was briefly rounded out by a foster daughter, Vikki. Diane was always restless to do more, so she and Bob embarked on a grand project to build their own house. Using bits and pieces from their travels, Diane and Bob were able to build a great house in the woods and a small farm with animals of all kinds. Every nail, wire, and window was put in place with their two hands. After raising her children and seeing them off to college, she longed for adventure and a new way to share her myriad skills. Diane and Bob joined the Peace Corps in Honduras. It fulfilled her needs of helping people and seeing the world. After several years away, Diane returned to Ukiah and helped the community in any way possible, like reading at schools or working at local volunteer organizations and continuing her work in local politics. She also built two more houses, just because she could. She lived an amazing life of travel, building, and caring for the people around her. Diane is predeceased by two of her brothers and her husband, Bob. She is survived by her two children, Kendall and Jason, their spouses Brendan and Bethany, her grandchildren Claire and Henry, and her youngest brother, Jim.