Diane H. McKinley

Diane Hoegerl McKinley passed away Monday, December 21, 2020, in her home, at the age of 71, after a lengthy battle with ALS.

Diane was born in Corpus Christi on May 30, 1949 to H.C. and Ermina Hoegerl. She was a 1967 graduate of Tuloso-Midway High School in Corpus Christi. She attended Texas A&I in Kingsville and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1971. At Texas A&I is where she met Murray, the love of her life, on a blind date. They were married January 9, 1971 and resided in Pearsall where they raised three children.

Diane was a wonderful mother and Grammy, and a favorite elementary teacher of many in Pearsall. She spent her entire teaching career at Pearsall ISD until she retired in 2008. She loved her family and treated her students like her own children. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, helping with Bible School, chairing the Worship Committee, serving on the Nurture and Care Committee, attending Bible studies, and playing in the bell choir. She started the Chrismon Tree tradition and put her talents of china painting and sewing to work to create the ornaments that still adorn the church.

Diane loved to travel and enjoyed sharing her experiences with everyone she met. She loved to paint, china paint, and collect art and Christmas ornaments from places she visited.  She loved her family and told everyone she met how wonderful her life was.

She is survived by two daughters, Amy Cave (Matthew) and Kimberly Greer (Hamilton); one son Nathan (Kim); and two grandsons Benjamin Cave and Jackson McKinley. She is loved and missed by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Murray and her parents Henry & Ermina Hoegerl. 

Donations to the First United Methodist Church or the ALS Foundation are welcomed in memory of Diane McKinley.

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