Diana Jean Mayland
Diana Jean Mayland, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, artist and friend, passed away peacefully on May 1 in Ajijic, where she had lived with her husband, Martin, for the past 25 years. She was 78 years old.
Born on February 28, 1947, in Montana to Peggy and Lyle Kenyon, Diana was raised in Greybull, Wyoming. She graduated from Greybull High School in 1965 and soon after married her high school sweetheart, William “Bill” Werbelow. Together, they had two sons, Wade William Werbelow and Scott Carsten Werbelow.
After completing beauty school in Billings, Montana, Diana returned to Greybull, where she opened her own salon, the Pink Slipper—a business she built from the ground up into a thriving and beloved part of the community.
In 1978, Diana found love again and married Martin Jr. Mayland. Together, they welcomed their son, Daniel Martin Mayland. Diana also embraced Martin’s children from his first marriage—Larry, Laurie, and Lisa Mayland—with warmth and devotion. The family lived and worked together on their farm and ranch in Greybull, where Diana balanced motherhood, business and the demands of ranch life with grace and determination.
Diana was a woman of extraordinary creativity, ambition, and unwavering love for her family. A nationally recognized artist, she was renowned for her breathtaking wildlife paintings and later transitioned to evocative watercolor portraits. She traveled across the country, showcasing her art in exhibitions and galleries, sharing her gift and vibrant spirit with the world. Diana also participated in salon pageants, always celebrating beauty in all its forms.
In the fall of 2000, Diana and Martin sold the ranch and retired to the scenic village of San Juan Cosalá. There, surrounded by natural beauty and a vibrant community, Diana continued to create, paint, and write—pursuing her passions while enjoying a slower pace of life with Martin.
Diana will be remembered for her loving heart, social spirit, artistic brilliance and her dedication to family, work and creative endeavors. She loved deeply, worked tirelessly and made every person she encountered feel valued. Her legacy lives on through the family she nurtured and the art she shared with the world.
Diana is survived by her children: Wade, Scott, and Daniel; and her stepchildren: Larry, Laurie, and Lisa. She is also survived by her 15 grandchildren—Carsten, Caden, Wesley, Wendy, Kailer, Aylah, Justin, Tracey, Afton, Sharla, Nathan, RJ, Tiffani, Michael, and Shala—and 19 great-grandchildren, who brought endless joy and pride to her life.
A celebration of Diana’s life will be held on Sunday, May 11, with music and flowers, as she would have loved. The service will take place at St. Andrew’s Anglican/Episcopal Church, San Luis 19, Riberas del Pilar. Her son will speak in her honor, reflecting on the extraordinary life she lived and the indelible impact she had on everyone around her.