Extracted from The Houston Chronicle (Houston, TX)
DIFFEY
DON DIFFEY, age 67, died suddenly of a massive heart attack on March 15, 2005, while on a brief vacation in Kinder, LA. Don was born in Shreveport, LA, on October 7, 1937. He was preceded in death by his wife of 29 years, Allena Womble.
He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Barbara Moeller Taylor of Houston. Also surviving him are sons Donald Wayne Diffey, Jr. & wife Vicky of Houston, Douglas Diffey & wife Eva of Hungary, stepdaughters Peggy Kendrick and husband Steve of Fulshear, Dana Hawkins and husband David of Needville, brother-in-law Noble Allen Womble of Shreveport, Aunt Lillian Foy Waldon of Monroe, several other aunts in LA, 10 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, and numerous nieces, nephews & friends.
Don graduated from Byrd High School in Shreveport and LSU with an electrical engineering degree. He volunteered for service in the Army in the late 1950's on the buddy program and served 4 years, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He retired from GECO/Schulumberger in 1994.
He was owner of Tic Toc Cafe from 1994-1996. Don was a kind, loving, considerate, gentle man who had an innate ability to judge a person's character at first meeting. In 2003, Don became a laryngectomy (neck breather) due to cancer of the larynx. Leonard Lovings, a ``lary'' himself, visited Don in the hospital several days after his surgery and credits this visit with saving his life. At the time of his passing, Don was President of Whispers Lost Chord Club of Spring, a support group. Don's family wishes to thank the people of Kinder, LA and Coushatta Hotel/Casino, especially Fire Chief Walter LaFargue, for the kindness they showed strangers during their time of need.
The family requests that any desired remembrances be sent to Cancer Fighters of Houston, 3400 Bissonnet, Suite 185, Houston, TX 77005, or Texas Laryngectomy Assn., c/o Kay Yetter, Treas., 26510 Oak Hill Dr., Spring, TX 77386.
Graveside funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M., Friday, March 18, 2005 at Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveport, LA. Visitation will be held 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M., Thursday, March 17, 2005 at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77077.
Thursday, March 17, 2005