Obituary of Diane Marie Kerly

Diane Marie (Baum) Kerly was born on Feb 22, 1948 in Harrisburg to the late John Harry and Virginia Hale Baum. Raised in Lemoyne, she was a graduate of Cedar Cliff High School, Bucknell University and New York University's Stern School of Business where she received her MBA in 1972. She was a Certified Public Accountant who worked for several major public accounting firms before moving to Centre County in 1981 where she worked for M.L. Claster and Sons, Inc. and Center HomeCare, Inc. prior to joining State of the Art, where she became the firm's controller and Vice President. She retired from State of the Art on March 1, 2021 after 35 years.

An amateur musician who played flute for several years with the Bellefonte Community Band, Diane was active with civic and charitable organizations in Centre County, most recently with the ClearWater Conservancy, the Hammer Foundation, and Centre County PAWS. She had a love for all things outdoors, and was an avid bicyclist, kayaker, and hiker. She also had a love for all creatures, with an enduring lifelong passion for cats—a passion which led her to devote considerable free time to the many felines, and two beloved dogs, that passed through her doors as both pets and fostered animals awaiting adoption.

She was a core supporter of the Trap/Neuter/Return Program of the Hundred Cat Foundation, and she spent countless hours working to improve the lives of stray, feral, and unowned cats in Centre County and Huntingdon County.

She was a very generous friend and sibling, always ready to listen and offer sound advice. She will be deeply missed by the hundreds of people whose lives she touched in her professional and personal pursuits.

Diane is survived by her brother J. Robert Baum of Spring Grove, Pa. and his partner Barbara Baughman of Gwynedd, Pa.; sister Deborah Long of Mechanicsburg, PA; brother James and his wife Hedda, of King of Prussia, PA; niece Robin Naismith of Newport Beach, CA, nephew Erich Baum of Manchester, NH, niece Nicole Snyder of Carlisle, PA, nephew Troy Snyder of Costa Mesa, CA, and eight great-nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her feline companions, Cinnamon and Sheba.

A private celebration of life will be held for Diane with Pastor Kevin Shock of St. Mark Lutheran Church of Pleasant Gap, Pa officiating. To view the service, click "View Memorial Service" on the menu on the left hand side of this page. 

Diane's memory may be honored with a donation to Centre County PAWS, 1401 Trout Rd., State College, PA 16801.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.