Gayle E. (Baker) Diggins - 1917 to 2008

BAKER, STRICKLER, DIGGINS, VANORE, BROWN, FINDORFF, MILLER, TAYLOR, WIGNALL AND EIGE

Posted By: Gerhardt Leffler (email)
Date: 2/9/2008 at 03:15:53

*** IN LOVING MEMORY OF ***
Gayle E. (Baker) Diggins, 90, of Marshalltown, entered into eternal life Feb. 7, 2008, at her home while under the loving care of her family and Iowa River Hospice.

A celebration of her life will be 2 p.m. Monday in the chapel at Pursel-Davis Funeral Home & Crematory. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Pursel-Davis Funeral Home & Crematory. Memorial contributions may be directed to Iowa River Hospice. Condolences may also be sent to Gayle’s family at www.vogelfuneralhomes.com

Born on Oct. 14, 1917, in Telluride, Colo., Gayle was the daughter of George and Nina (Strickler) Baker. She was raised in Rhodes, Iowa, where she graduated from high school in 1935. She was united in marriage to Karroll Diggins on June 12, 1935, at The Little Brown Church in the Vail in Nashua, Iowa. Together they celebrated 42 years of marriage until he passed away on Sept. 14, 1977. Gayle was a resident of Marshalltown since 1937. She was employed as an agent at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for eight years and then at Job Service of Iowa for 21 years. She retired in 1996 at the age of 79, but continued working part time and served our community in many capacities.

Gayle was a leader for the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as for the Brownies. She was past president of Aaron Palmer PTA and the City PTA. After her son enlisted in the Navy, she became a member of the Navy Mothers’ Clubs of America #824. She became commander of the local chapter and held state and national offices of commander,

organizer, chaplain, adjutant, and finance officer. She was also the assistant news editor for the Navy Mother’s National Newsletter for several years. Gayle was elected to serve on the Older Iowans’ Legislature and she had served on the board of the Hawkeye Area Agency on Aging. She had been the secretary for the All Veterans Committee and was instrumental in the planning of Memorial Day services at the local cemeteries. She served as a secretary of the Wesleyan Circle at First United Methodist Church for eight years and she had been the secretary for Life Underwriters and the Commission on Aging for four years.

In her leisure time, Gayle loved to travel and had visited all of the states except Florida. She had also visited New Zealand, Fiji Island, Mexico, Canada and Europe several times.

Left to cherish her memory are her six children: Patricia (Armand) Vanore of Marshalltown, Donavan (Anne) Diggins of Beaufort, S.C., Janyce (Gordon) Brown of Marshalltown, Joyce (Richard) Findorff of Minneapolis, Minn., Lynnette (Terry) Miller of Tomball, Texas, Lynda Taylor of Marshalltown and Jon (Linda) Diggins of Marshalltown; two sisters: Grace Wignall and Jean Eige, both of Marshalltown; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter.

In eternal life, Gayle joins her parents; her husband, Karroll Diggins (1977); and her grandson, Christopher Diggins (1986).
PURSEL~DAVIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY is caring for the family and the arrangements.
SITE OF VOGEL FAMILY OF FUNERAL HOMES.
405 West Main Street
Marshalltown, Iowa 50158
USA
PHONE: (641) 753-5511
EMAIL: www.vogelfuneralhomes.com.
WEBSITE: http://www.purseldavis.com/

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