HUNTSVILLE — The Rev. Norman Everett Diehl was born on May 9, 1931, in Mt. Belvieu, “Barbers Hill”, Texas, to Walter and Alma Diehl, in a tent with no doctor in sight on a Texas Company Lease. The family moved to Dickinson in 1941, where Norman graduated from Dickinson High School in 1950 and enrolled at North Texas State University to pursue his dream of teaching Industrial Arts.

In 1952, he fell in love with Eleanor Diehl, a Huntsville girl, and they were married in 1953. They were blessed with four wonderful children: Gene, Mark, Lisa and Ginny. In 1955, after Norman had transferred to the University of Houston, The Lord Jesus Christ called him into the ministry. On the recommendation of his pastor, he changed his major to Speech and completed his last two years of college work at the University of Corpus Christi, a small Baptist school. He signed a contract to teach school, but Eleanor, being much smarter than him, suggested they move to Fort Worth where he enrolled in Southwestern Seminary. For the remainder of his life, he served The Lord.

After 39 years of marriage and a valiant battle with cancer, Eleanor went to be with The Lord. They leave behind – for a while – Gene Diehl and his wife Jhanet and their sons Nathan and JP; Mark Diehl and his wife Laurie and their children Garrett and Lindsay; Lisa Gregory and her husband Kevin and their sons Chase and Cole; Ginny Richards and her husband Ken and their children James, Michael, Elizabeth and Rachel.

After Eleanor’s battle with cancer ended, Norman married Audrey Hill from Livingston. They had nine wonderful years together before cancer struck again. Once again, God blessed him with a wonderful wife, Sue Bartee Diehl. For the last four years, they were each other’s strength and support. For a while, he leaves behind his wife, Sue Bartee Diehl and her two children: Wayne Bartee and his wife Rosemary and their daughter Sara Bartee and daughter Shane Roberts and her husband Greg Roberts and their son Logan; Susan Hoeser and her husband Bonner and their daughter Shannon York and her husband Ted and their children Kealy, Layne and Joe, son Trent Hoeser and his wife Kelli and their children Rylee and Elizabeth. He also leaves behind his brothers and their wives: R.D. Diehl and his wife Nelda, Bobby Diehl and his wife Kathryn, Bill Diehl and his wife Peggy and Ronnie Diehl and his wife Connie.

He is preceded in death by his sister Adele Williams, brother Curtis Diehl, and brother Sam Diehl and by granddaughter Kristy Lawson and her husband Troy and their children Cameron and Kara Beth. 

Visitation will be at Sam Houston Funeral Home in Huntsville, Texas Sunday, March 7, 2010, from 2-5 p.m. Services will be held on Monday, March 8, 2010, at 10 a.m. at University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore in Huntsville, with Dr. Richard Rogers, the Rev. Frank Roberson, the Rev. Hugh Durham and Pastor Jason Bay officiating. Burial will follow at Boswell Cemetery near New Waverly.

Pallbearers will be Ron and Don Williams, Rick Diehl, Bryan Diehl, “Bo” Bean, Charles Smith and Kooter Roberson. 

Memorial donations may be made to Greater Things, University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore Avenue, Huntsville, Texas  77340. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.