Marilyne Crill Dieckert
August 15, 1929 ~ June 3, 2020
Born in:
Arkansas City, Kansas
Resided in:
College Station, Texas
Marilyne C. Dieckert, Ph.D., recently passed away in her sleep after suffering recurrent strokes. She was able to be with her beloved family at her home until the very end.
Ms. Dieckert was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on August 15, 1929. During her entire life she was able to achieve musical excellence and performed at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, and numerous churches and community musical venues in College Station, Bryan, Alpine, and New Orleans. She also served as organist and choir director at St. Thomas Episcopal Church (College Station), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (Bryan), and A&M United Methodist Church (College Station), and Lakeview Presbyterian Church and St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans, LA.
She received musical degrees at Sul Ross University and science degrees in Botany and Avian Biology at Texas A&M University in College Station.
Dr. Dieckert teamed with the love of her life, J. W. Dieckert, Ph.D., who preceded her in death, to perform pioneering research in Biochemistry and Poultry Science. They collaborated on numerous research projects and were rewarded with significant independent research grant support over their long careers at Texas A&M.
She is survived by her children, Paul Dieckert (Belton), Kristin Feuerbacher (San Antonio), Joe Dieckert (Bryan), Julie Yaun (College Station) and Erik Dieckert (Leander), 17 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.
The Dieckerts were staunch supporters of wildlife preservation, wilderness conservation, and wounded war veterans. They were honored by the state of Texas for their philanthropic donation of 4,480 acres of land in Brewster County to the Texas State Department of Parks and Wildlife to be maintained in perpetuity as a protected wilderness area. The land has been designated the “Dieckert Masada Ridge Wilderness Unit of Big Bend Ranch State Park.”
A private family service will be held on the Masada Ridge this fall to honor Marilyne Dieckert, her husband J.W., and the animals that they knew and loved. The family requests that any memorial contributions be sent to Wildlife Rescue-Rehabilitation, Inc., PO Box 369, Kendalia, Texas 78027; or to Unitarian Universalists of the Big Bend, P.O. Box 1072, Alpine, Texas 79831.
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Thank you for your kind memories of Marilyne. Wonderful musical memorial you are planning. Hope to be able to attend.
Kind regards,
Paul Dieckert
254-913-2091
I would love to hear you play, especially her works. Please do let us know when that will be! Thank you!
I would love to hear you play, especially Mom’s works! Please fo let us know
Thank you,
Julie
I was Marilyne’s voice, choir, and composition professor at Sul Ross from 2006. What a wonderful spirit she imparted to faculty and students! We will also remember her for donating the organ. Donald Callen Freed, PhD (retired 2018)
Marilyne had a wonderful time in Alpine. Your work together was very enriching for her. She loved donating the organ to Sul Ross. She spoke highly of you many times. Music was a huge part of her life.
Sincerely,
Paul Dieckert
Marilyne was a wonderful friend and collaborator! We met in 1984 and played together in the Brazos Valley Symphony flute section. After she left the symphony, we continued making music together. In addition to being a skilled flutist, she was an extraordinary pianist and bassoonist! To this day, I count her as the best piano accompanist I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with! Because she was a flutist, she knew exactly where to breath! When I formed the Brazos Breeze Flute Choir, she was on a hiatus from living in Alpine and joined our band. Unfortunately for us, Alpine called to her once again and she headed back to West Texas. We stayed in touch and she would attend our concerts from time to time after coming back to College Station.
She was such a fiercely independent soul and I marveled at how she lived on a mountain top all alone….well, except for her very interesting pets who were her protectors!
Godspeed Marilyne! I am blessed to have known you and count you as my friend!
Many thanks for your kind remembrances. She loved performing musically with her friends.
Blessings,
Paul Dieckert
Marilyne was always giving of herself and her many talents — here, there, and everywhere she went. She was a fast friend to newcomers and never met a stranger. She had a welcoming heart to people and ideas. Truly a model and an inspiration.
Many thanks for your kind remembrances.
Blessings,
Paul Dieckert
Many thanks for your kind remembrances.
Sincerely,
Paul Dieckert
Many thanks for your kind words and memories of Marilyne.
Kind regards,
Paul Dieckert
Sincerest condolences to each and all of you from Marilyne’s friends at the Christian Science Church.
We loved Marilyne! Her music -and her joy in sharing it- was a gift to not only us, but to the whole community and beyond to the far reaches of her beloved West Texas. We remember,too, her creativity, her quest for learning, her love of family, including her animals, and her ageless vitality and appreciation for all life!
In loving remembrance,
Christian Science Society
201 Boyett Street, College Station
Many thanks for your kind remembrances. Marilyne’s association with Christian began in childhood when her mother had a miraculous recovery from criippling rheumatoid arthritis using Christian Science Principles. She would quote Mary Baker Eddy often with reverence.
KInd regards,
Paul Dieckert
Julie, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. As when you lost your Dad, I hope you find strength in knowing your Mom and and him are once again teamed up….walking hand in hand!
Stay strong in God’s love and alway keep a smile on your face!
Mike
I truly appreciate your kind words. Thank you for thinking of me at this time.
Julie
You were an inspiration to Mom and she considered you a great friend. She would speak of you often and I know you were an integral part in her embracing her life’s passions again after my dad passed. Thank you for being there. And thank you for your kind remembrances as she had so many about you! You were always near and dear to her heart.
Sincerely,
Julie