Marie Claire DIAL

1936 - 2015

DIAL, Marie Claire
Marie Claire Dial, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully on May 2, 2015, at the age of 78.

Marie was born in Houston, Texas on June 29, 1936 to August and Arthemise Baldowski. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1954. Marie soon met the love of her life, Donald (Don) Bruce Dial, also from the Houston area. They married on August 31, 1955 and subsequently moved to Austin where they purchased their present home in Fairview Park, overlooking downtown Austin, and where they raised four children and shared a remarkable and loving marriage of almost 60 years.

While Marie worked in various jobs over the years, mostly providing loving day care services to Austin infants, her major commitment was to being the finest wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother that she could be. She assumed the roles of classroom mom, scout leader and chief transporter for her very active kids. Marie had a natural love of beauty and art and she never failed to have a yard full of colorful blooms and an artist's canvas in the works! She most enjoyed the years when she took part in women's art groups, taking art lessons and attending workshops around the Austin area. Also among Marie's greatest joys were family vacations and traditional family and holiday gatherings.

Marie is survived by her husband Don Dial, sister Wanda Gilbert; children, Glenn Dial (Heidi), David Dial (Marla), Karen Sperry (Jack) and Larry Dial; grandson, Robert Dial (Jennifer), great grandson Dawson Dial, as well as other extended family and relatives, mostly from the central Texas area.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, August and Arthemise Baldowski, her sister, Sylvia Dandy and her brother-in-law, Ronnie Gilbert.

In keeping with the wishes of Marie and Don, a private family celebration of Marie's life will be held on Saturday, May 9, which appropriately falls on Mother's Day weekend. A digital tribute highlighting Marie's life can be found at www.forevermissed.com/marie-claire-dial/#about.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Celiac Disease Foundation at www.cdf.thankyou4caring.org or to Any Baby Can at www.anybabycan.org/donate.