Audrey McCrory Diehl

Audrey Jean McCrory Hill Diehl was born August 15, 1936 to Horace Jefferson McCrory and Myrtie Weaver McCrory in New Willard, Texas. She was delivered at home by the Texas Long Leaf Lumber Company Doctor on his birthday. She attended elementary school at New Willard and graduated from Livingston High School in 1954. From a very early age, Audrey attended Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church in New Willard and made a profession of faith at age 10. She was an active member of the youth group and was the church pianist from age 9 until her marriage to her high school sweetheart, Amos Turner Hill on June 6, 1954. To this union was born three sons, Dwayne Dale, Livingston, TX; James Howard, Carthage, TX; and Kirby McCrory Hill, Baytown, TX. In 1963, Audrey began attending Wharton County College and graduated with honors in 1967. She finished her Bachelor of Arts Degree at University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, La having graduated with Highest Distinction in 1970. Audrey taught school in Milton, Louisiana, Goliad, Texas; Shepherd, Texas, Livingston, Texas and Dickinson, Texas where she retired after teaching Junior High School students for 23 years. After 36 very happy years together, in 1990, cancer took her mate. In 1993 she met and married the Reverend Norman Diehl who was Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Huntsville. Here, Audrey served as the church pianist, sang in the choir taught Sunday School and led Bible Studies. After Norman’s retirement, she enjoyed traveling with him to many different churches where he served as interim pastor and supplied for pastors. Audrey was a quilter, loved to sew, was happiest in her kitchen canning vegetables and fruit and cooking for large crowds. She was the pianist for the Huntsville Community Choir and loved to sing and play gospel music. She said that she could read music before she could read words, having attended many singing schools in East Texas with her mother. She is survived by her husband Norman Diehl, three sons Dale and his wife Della; James and his wife Lynda and Kirby and his wife Peggy; grandchildren Melanie Mansfield and her husband Brad, Jeremy Hill, Chelsea Hill, Jerrett Hill, Justin Hill, Jason Hill, and Kathleen Hill, and great grandchildren Grant Turner Mansfield and Jayden Turner Hill, and her Diehl Children; Gene Diehl, Mark and Laurie Diehl, Ken and Ginny Richards, Lisa and Kevin Gregory, and the Diehl Grandchildren, James, Michael, Elizabeth, Rachel, Garrett, Lindsey, Chase, Cole and Nathan. Services will be held, Friday, May 6, 2005 at 1:00 PM at the Calvary Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Peebles Cemetery at 4:00 PM under the direction of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Serving as pallbearers are Jerry Marsh, Bill Hill, Aubrey Hill, Dude Hill, Bud Smith and Charles Smith.

Audrey McCrory Diehl

August 15, 1936 - May 6, 2005