LaRue Bailey Diddle

LaRue Bailey Diddle, widow of Jake Calvin Diddle and Mother to James Bailey Diddle and Trudi Diddle Free, passed away February 27, 2023. LaRue was born 09/07/1923 to Grover and Edna Baggett Bailey in Moody, Texas. LaRue graduated from Moody High School as Valedictorian in 1941 and married Jake Diddle on October 11, 1941. They had been married for 60 years when she lost Jake. She and Jake married during WWII and LaRue followed him to the camps where he was stationed. When the 36th Division was sent to Europe, she returned home and worked for the First National Bank of Moody for three years. Upon Jake’s release from POW camp and return, they moved to College Station where he enrolled at Texas A&M and LaRue worked as the secretary to the Head of the Agronomy Department. Upon graduation they moved to Breckenridge and then to Victoria with Sears. Then to Dallas with Texas Instruments and Irving Schools where they retired and moved to Lake Belton. In Irving and Belton, LaRue worked as a Real Estate Broker. She was voted Realtor of the Year in 1986 and President of the Temple-Belton Board of Realtors in 1988. A stroke in 1999 caused her to retire from having been actively engaged in real estate.

They were avid travelers touring the USA, Europe and the Middle East, Hawaii several times, but cruising was their real love. Their longest cruise was crossing the Atlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Athens, Greece.

LaRue was an active member of St Luke’s Episcopal Church before moving to independent living in Bedford, Texas in 2011. Life member of the American Prisoners of War Organization, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of the American Revolution, Women’s Wednesday Club and Senior Fellowship Bridge Club. Bridge, poker and 42 with Dominoes were where she loved to spend her time with friends.

LaRue is preceded in death, by her spouse Jake Calvin Diddle, parent’s Grover Bailey and Edna Baggett Bailey, Jake's parents Grover and Ethel Diddle, brother Wilburn (Bob) Bailey and Ann Bailey, Garnet and Clora Lee Cagle, Ray and Dorothy Diddle.

Surviving family members and family are her children James and Carol Diddle, Trudi Diddle Free. Grandchildren and family, are James and Tina Diddle, Jake Diddle, Bailey Free and Lindie Nelms. Great grandson Emery Diddle. Nieces and nephews and family are Tom and Carolyn Cossey, Betty and Earl Zelmer, Jerry and Martha Cagle, Terry and Annette Cagle, Calvin and Robin Diddle. She is also survived by many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Parc Place Retirement Living in Bedford, Texas on March 25th at 11 and a private burial service will be at the Moody Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donation to City Point United Methodist Church, North Richland Hills, Texas.