Milford, Maine - Diane Elaine Joy Priest passed away surrounded by family at Orono Commons nursing facility on July 1, 2025. Diane was born August 12, 1943, in Ellsworth, Maine, to Wallace E. Barron and Crystal L. Dunton Barron of Cherryfield.

Diane spent her early years growing up in Cherryfield, the daughter of a game warden. Diane's father was promoted to warden supervisor and they moved to Caratunk, Maine. Diane graduated from high school in Bingham, and attended Farmington State Teachers College. Diane married Everett Joy on June 10, 1963, in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, then embarked on a career as a USAF wife living in Germany, Colorado, New Hampshire, Montana, and Massachusetts. Diane and Everett retired to Sullivan, Maine, in 1980. Diane worked in retail for a bit before working at Morrison Chevrolet in Ellsworth. Diane and David Priest Jr. were married atop Chick Hill in Clifton, ME, on July 3. 1999. Diane continued in the automotive business working as Title Clerk at Darling's Ford in Bangor until her retirement. Diane liked dragonflies, cardinals, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds.

Diane was predeceased by her first husband, Everrett Joy; her mother, Crystal Barron; her brother, Wallace "Butch" Barron; her father, Wallace E. Barron; sister-in-law, Ruby Joy; brother-in-law, Alfred Joy; and niece, Cheryl Barron-Brayfield. Diane is survived by daughters, Sioux Barron of Poland, Elizabeth Joy of Scarborough, Nadine and Randy Bates of Sherman, and Sandra and Jim Sigman of Phoenix, AZ, Amanda and Jon Benoit of Saco, Kate and Jon Hutchins of Orrington; grandchildren, Elsie, Nicole, Zackary, MacKenzie, Amelia, and Wyatt; and great-grandchildren, Arjeta, Elira, Ellie, Mason and Bennett; brothers, Gary Barron of Tucson, AZ, Lyndon Barron of Nobelboro, ME; brother-in-law, Jordan "Joe" Joy and Lynn of Sullivan; nephews, Randall Barron, Russell Barron, Wallace "Bucky" Barron, Christopher Barron, Jason Barron, and Duane Joy; nieces, Bonnie Gil, Trina Waterman, and Corrine Lee; and a very special German Shepherd, Ellie.

The family would like to thank Orono Commons nursing facility and Gentiva Hospice for the excellent care they gave Diane, our beloved, sister, mother, and wife over the last leg of her journey.

A celebration of life will be held May 9, 2026, in conjunction with the annual spring AKA "The Old Game Warden" Cookout at 187 Call Rd., Milford, Maine.