Mary Camilla Diehls passed away peacefully at the Lodge on February 4, 2024. Mary was born in Afton, Wisconsin, to Charles and Marie (Henrickson) Rinehimer on March 31, 1928.

Mary married Evan A. Diehls on June 7, 1947. Evan preceded her in death in February 1974. She was a member of the Fayette First Christian Church.

Mary is survived by sons, Pete Diehls, Charlie Diehls, and Steve (Joyce) Diehls; daughter-in-law, Christine Diehls; grandchildren, Christopher (Julie) Diehls, Chelsea Diehls, Corie (Lane) Best, Eva (Brian) Harsh, Victoria (Chad) Peterson; great-grandchildren, Maddie Diehls, Evan Diehls, Ellie Peterson, Adelyn Peterson, Leanne Foster, Lincoln Harsh, and Easton Foster.

In addition to her husband, Mary was preceded in death by sons Tim Diehls and Andy Diehls; granddaughter Mary Melissa Diehls; and great-grandson Charles Diehls.

Mary authored a memoir of her life entitled “Mary Camilla Rinehimer Diehls; A Good Long Life,” in which she shared the following in her own words:

“Mary Diehls has lived three lives. During her first life, Mary grew up in the small town of Afton, Wisconsin, where her parents ran the local general store and nobody was a stranger. Her relatives lived throughout the neighborhood, so she was always near family. She lived in a unique house, where one side was the family home, and the other a local tavern, run by her father. Her care-free childhood was spent playing with the neighborhood children, ice skating on the local pond, picking apples, visiting relatives daily, taking care of her horse, and as she got older, working in the store.

“Her second life started when she married Evan Diehls. She and Evan bought a dairy farm and worked hard to make it a success, also raising five boys at the same time. The cold winters in Wisconsin helped them eventually to decide to move to Howard County Missouri and raise beef cattle.

“The unexpected and sudden death of Evan from an aneurysm started her third life, as a widow. She became an avid horseback rider, and active member of the Eastern Star and a devoted grandmother and great grandmother.”

A memorial service honoring Mary’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Carr-Yager Funeral Home in Fayette.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Sharon Cemetery, Easter Star Chapter 290 or the Howard County Fairground Development Building Fund.

Condolences may be shared at www.carryager.com.