Dianne David 1938-2012

Dianne David Obituary

1938? – March 2012 

Dianne David is dead. Those of us who were lucky enough to have known her will remember her intelligence, her rapier wit, her sharp tongue, and her love of art and literature.
She was a combination of her father, self-made drilling mud tycoon, Henry David, and her beautiful, brilliant mother, Grace, whose taste and kindness amazed and inspired all who knew her. 

Dianne could be difficult with even her closest friends, every one of whom bore the bite of her criticism at least once. She was talented, intelligent and had little patience with those who disagreed with or couldn't match her. Her wrath could be withering but we knew her well and forgave it. She was often right and was always given another chance. 

Dianne's star shone brightly. Her pioneering David Gallery in the late 60's, was the most influential of its time and enlivened the Houston art scene with creative exhibitions that introduced the works of her brother Dorman David, Bob Camblin, Lucas Johnson, Earl Staley, Roy Fridge, Jim Love, David McManaway, Charles Pebworth, Donald Roller Wilson, William T. Wiley, Larry Rivers, Seymour Leichmann, Guy Johnson, amongst others and in doing so influenced the direction of contemporary art in Houston. Her taste inspired friends and patrons alike who are now the better for it. 

After closing the gallery and moving out of Houston ( to Brenham), Dianne continued to discover and promote artists on her own, including Julie Speed, until a cerebral aneurism brought confusion to her amazing mind. 

She will also be remembered for her fabulous cooking and frequent dinner parties usually with a fascinating mix of artists and intellectuals espousing worthy causes. She had a great love for her animals, from a series of dogs each named Possum, her horse, Cutty Sark and her turtles that lived in an artfully amazing outdoor condo that she created for them. 

Besides her friends, she will be missed by her children, Anna Kimberly (Kim) Braun and Charles Edward (Chase) Crossingham, daughter-in-law, Rhonda, grandchildren Jordan Kimberly and Charles (Chad) Crossingham, Carl Alexander Braun, all of Mt. Airy, North Carolina and brother, talented Houston artist, Dorman David.
Burial will be in North Carolina.

Published by Houston Chronicle from Mar. 4 to Mar. 5, 2012.