Muriel May Diescher

MURIEL DIESCHER went to be with the Lord on Sept. 14, 2015. She was born March 31, 1923 in Forest Hills, N.Y., the daughter of dancing instructor, Dorothy Whyte. As a child, Muriel was a member of actor's equity with her uncle Charlie McKinney, who was a vaudeville actor with Charlie Chaplin. She married her husband, Bill, in 1940. They moved to Cortland in 1953 with their three children; Bill III, John and Muriel "Cookie". In Cortland they started Diescher Farms which still operates today by her son, John. Muriel and her husband owned and operated Riverside Motel in Homer for 16 years. Muriel moved to Maumelle, Ark. in 2006 to help care for her daughter, Cookie, who had been diagnosed with ALS. Muriel is survived by her children Bill (Debi) Diescher, John (Brenda) Diescher, son-in-law Jim (Dena) Peckham; grandsons, Johnny Diescher, Jim Diescher, Bud Diescher, Dan Diescher, Deven Diescher; granddaughters, Deanna Diescher, Deborah Caughey, and Rhonda Diescher; great grandchildren Alexis Caughey, Conner Caughey, Kameron Diescher, Kassandra Diescher, Jenna Diescher and Maddie Diescher. Muriel was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Bill in 2000, and by her daughter Muriel "Cookie" Peckham in 2007. Because of Muriel's love of animals, donations may be made to Cortland SPCA, 879 McLean Road, Cortland, N.Y., 13045 or to Baptist Hospice,11900 Col. Glenn Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72210, who cared for her in her final years. A Memorial Mass will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in North Little Rock, Ark. Online Guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.