Diana K. O’Neal

Diana Kay O'Neal, 81, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, after a brief illness.

Diana was a beloved wife, mother, Mamaw, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and friend. Family was at the center of Diana's life, but her circle extended well beyond it. She treasured her friendships, enjoyed bringing people together and had a genuine enthusiasm for life and the people with whom she shared it.

Diana was born on Aug. 15, 1945, in Williamson, West Virginia. Fred and Margie Griffith were her devoted parents. Diana was the oldest of four daughters and a big sister to Cindy, Colleen and Alice. Her sisters looked up to her throughout their lives as someone they could count on for encouragement, support and, when needed, a little advice.

Diana graduated from high school in Kaiserslautern, Germany, while her family was on a military tour of Europe. She brought a little of Europe home with her — especially appreciation for fashion and style that stayed with her for the rest of her life. After high school, Diana pursued modeling and eventually helped Fred and Margie open The Fashion Manor, a ladies' dress shop in Hot Springs. For more than a decade during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the shop was a place where Diana and her family came to know so many people in Hot Springs, forming friendships and connections she treasured for years to come.

In 1974, Diana was introduced by friends to Kenneth Ray O'Neal. They married later that same year and went on to have one son, Kenneth Christian. Diana and Ken built a life together centered around family, friends and their home. They shared nearly 48 years of marriage before Ken's death in 2022.

Throughout their marriage, Diana took great pleasure in opening their home to others. She had a gift for hospitality and delighted in decorating, entertaining and bringing people together. Their home was the setting for countless Christmas parties, celebrations and gatherings over the years. More than anything, Diana wanted the people who entered her home — and her life — to know they were welcome.

Being a mother brought Diana tremendous joy, but perhaps no role delighted her more than being "Mamaw" to Mason, McKinley and Beckett. She was a constant presence in their lives and took tremendous pride in each of them.

Faith was central to Diana's life. She believed deeply in the love of God and was a firm believer in the power of prayer. She sought to be a light in the world, not simply through words, but in the way she lived and cared for others.

Diana knew how to enjoy life and collected plenty of stories along the way. She delighted in telling them, whether recalling trips to Las Vegas with Ken, excursions along the Champs-Élysées in Paris or dancing at the NCO Club to some of her favorite music. Diana could turn an experience into a story worth telling again — and, as those closest to her knew, sometimes with a little more detail added each time.

Diana also had high standards — and she was not afraid to enforce them. But behind those expectations was a woman with an enormous capacity for kindness and generosity. She believed in showing up for the people who mattered to her — even if, on occasion, she showed up a little late.

After Ken's death, Diana and Christian shared a particularly close chapter together. During the final year of her life, as Christian became her primary caregiver, mother and son spent countless hours together through appointments, errands, meals, conversations and the ordinary routines of life. Somewhere along the way, caring for his mother became one of the great privileges of Christian's life, and that time together became a gift he will always treasure.

During Diana's final days, someone at the hospital asked Christian what his mother had done before she retired. There were many ways he could have answered the question, but in that moment only one answer seemed important:

"She was my mom."

And what a mom she was.

Diana was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Ray O'Neal, and her parents, Fred and Margie Griffith.

She is survived and will be deeply missed by her son, Kenneth Christian O'Neal; her grandsons, Mason O'Neal and Beckett O'Neal; her granddaughter, McKinley O'Neal; her sisters, Cindy Warnack (Larry), Colleen Johnson (Paul) and Alice Moore (Jay Mac); and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

The family especially wishes to recognize two dear friends, Rick Fleetwood and Rachel O'Neal, whose friendship and presence brought tremendous joy to Diana's life since her move to Little Rock.

Services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 21, at First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with the Rev. J. J. Galloway officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Kenneth R. and Diana K. O'Neal Endowed Scholarship, UA Little Rock Foundation, 2801 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204.

Please share your messages of love, comfort and support with her family athttp://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

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