Diane Lea Stapleton, 51, of Hutchinson, died Sunday, December 20, 2009, at Promise Regional Medical Center in Hutchinson. She was born October 1, 1958, in Hutchinson, the daughter of Walter and Willa Mae I. Werst Stapleton. A life-long Hutchinson resident, she was a teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. Previously she had taught 6th grade at McCandless Elementary School. She attended Trinity United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Hutchinson National Education Association, and the Kansas Education Association, the Hutchinson Women's Bowling Association, and was a scorer for the Kansas State Department of Education Student Teacher portfolios. She was an avid bowler, and was a Hutchinson City Women's Champion.
She graduated from Nickerson High School in 1976, Hutchinson Community College in 1978, and Emporia State University in 1980.

Survivors include: a son, Jacob Mulneix; her mother, Willa Mae Stapleton; sisters, Debby Aleman, and husband Ed, Nancy Krafels, and husband Ron, Barb Moore, and husband Dave, all of Hutchinson, and Rhonda Brusso, and husband Jan, Omaha, Nebraska; nephews, Jeffrey and John Krafels, Michael Brusso, and Chris Starks; nieces, Jill Roberts, Anne Mack, Jenny Self, and Lexi Moore; and 12 great nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at the Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Pat Ault-Duell presiding. A register book will be available to sign at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday, at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Diane Lea Stapleton Memorial Fund, sent in care of the Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, Kansas, 67501. Friends may visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal condolence for the family.