Betty Dianne Hendrix

Betty Dianne Roberson Hendrix, age 70, of Palmer, Alaska passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2016 after a long and heroic battle with ovarian cancer. Dianne was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 12, 1946. She grew up in Atlanta and graduated from O'Keefe High School in 1964. Later, she obtained an associate degree for Drafting & Design Tech from TCJC at Fort Worth, Texas. For many years her husband, Chuck, and she traveled to Canada and the U.S. due to his job. She was fortunate to have traveled so much, and told anyone who would listen tales of her journeys and friendships she made along the way. They finally settled in Laguna Vista, Texas where they built their home on the bay. There she pursued her artistic talent in painting portraits and scenery of that area, while being a loving mother. She was a member of the Houston Art League and some of her paintings were on display in Houston and Dallas. In 1994 she started a new chapter in her life by moving to Alaska. She settled in Anchorage for a while, and worked for Sam's Club where she designed multiple covers for their Bush catalogs. In her retirement she settled into a community just outside of Palmer, Alaska. It was there where she finally felt at home again, and grew to love Alaska even more. Dianne was an accomplished artist by then. She painted portraits of native Alaskans and their culture, scenes of Alaskan wildlife, and her favorite: The Northern Lights. She donated some of her paintings to various charities in the Anchorage area, and was spotlighted on TV for donating her art in an annual charity event multiple years in a row. Her paintings and other artwork can still be found in buildings throughout Alaska. If you ever visit Mat-Su Regional Hospital, take a look for two of her framed photographs on the wall, she loved to show them off and tell the stories behind them. Dianne also loved riding her ATV's on the trails in Alaska. Her passion led her to become president of the local Mat-Su ATV club, where she organized and coordinated numerous club rides and events for many years. She was a skilled photographer and had a deep passion for documenting rides with her ATV Club. Examples of her art and photos can be seen on her website, www.artworldplus.com . Later in her life Dianne enjoyed the companionship of her dogs, Sadie Faye, Daisy, and Duke. Dianne is survived by her brother and sister-in- law in Conyers, GA, two daughters, four grandchildren, two step-daughters, several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Due to unfortunate and understandable medical reasons, Dianne's immediate family could not be with her during her illness. Her brother and sister-in- law wish to express their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Dianne's neighbors and friends in the Palmer, Alaska area who became her Alaskan family. They oversaw her medical care and were continuously with her and comforted her in her final days. Her Alaskan family is thankful for the endless emotional support during Dianne's final journey. While Dianne's scuffle with cancer was long and hard, it did not break her: she preserved her active life, an extraordinary sense of humor, and she never let the smile fade from her face. Dianne's wishes were to be cremated, and her ashes will be scattered throughout Alaska. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. There will also be a memorial ATV ride on some of Dianne's favorite trails in Alaska, for all to come and ride.