Linda Dianne Auer

SHREVEPORT, LA - A Mass of Resurrection for Linda Dianne Powell Auer (Dianne) will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 19, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Fr. Phil Michels is the presider with Fr. Joseph Ampatt concelebrating. Interment will follow at Martin Cemetery, Martin, LA. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 18, 2016 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, LA. A vigil service will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Rosary at the funeral home. Any family and friends who wish to visit after the vigil service on Thursday, February 18, 2016 are welcome at the home of Britain and Ginger Auer, from 7:00 until 10:00 p.m. Linda Dianne Powell Auer (Dianne) was born March 11, 1951, in Sabine Parish. She grew up in Evelyn, LA on a dairy farm. Dianne met her husband of 44 years, Frank Mercer Auer, through the 4-H Club. She excelled at showing cows in 4-H. Frank, on the other hand, showed pigs. It was on a fateful 4-H trip to Chicago where the gauntlet was thrown and Frank first kissed Dianne. The couple dated and was married while still in college on June 11, 1971. Frank and Dianne were blessed with four children, Scott, Gretchen, Britain, and Ginger. The family was very active in soccer as well as other sports with Dianne hustling to get each of the children to his or her designated practice. Dianne had a servant's heart and served her family all of her life. Whether managing properties to feed the family and put a roof over its head while Frank was completing law school or when one of her children needed assistance picking up a child or children from school, Dianne was available to serve. To her grandchildren Dianne was known as "Nanny." Even when her body was in pain, Nanny did what she could to attend grandchildren's events at school, soccer matches, swim meets, or musical performances. Dianne also served others, as she sang in the choir at St. Joseph's, volunteered at Gabriel's Closet, attended Bible study, was a long-time presenter at "Engaged Couples Weekend" because she strongly believed in marriage as a sacrament, served on the St. George finance council and was quick to a neighbor with a food basket in time of need. Frank and Dianne made their home in Shreveport. However, Dianne had a knack for buying a house, renovating and selling it, and then finding another house to tackle. So they lived in various parts of Shreveport for approximately 35 years, during which time Dianne bought, renovated and sold over 25 houses. For about 6 years, Frank and Dianne resided in Martin, LA at Frank's ancestral home. They enjoyed living in Martin in the house Dianne updated, but Dianne wanted to be closer to her 4 children and 11 grandchildren (the 12^th grandchild is on the way), so they returned to Shreveport. Dianne grew up in the Baptist church and her father, Wilmer Powell, was a Deacon at First Baptist Church in Coushatta. Frank grew up Catholic. Dianne converted to Catholicism not long after they married, a decision she did not make lightly. Dianne's faith was very important to her. Frank and Dianne instilled the value of faith into their children. Dianne made a house truly a home and instilled the value of family into her children. Meals were very important to Dianne. Dianne would cook breakfast for her family most mornings while the children were growing up and would cook a full meal for dinner nearly every evening, as the family would eat together as much as it could. The Sunday before she died on Tuesday, she entertained 15 family members at their home, and the day before she died, since school was out for President's Day, she invited 6 of her grandchildren to her home and spent the day with the 4 them that could come. Dianne died on February 16, 2016. Dianne battled cancer since 2010 and endured numerous complications of the disease and its treatment. In the end she was taken home to our Father, surrounded by her husband, her sister and all four of her children and their spouses. Dianne fought hard, never losing faith in God, and always loving and serving her family. Dianne was preceded in death by her parents, Wilmer Loyd Powell and Jean Thomas Powell. She is survived by her husband Frank Mercer Auer; her sister Suzanne Powell; son, Scott Joseph Auer and wife Dawn, daughter, Gretchen Dian Auer, son, Dr. Powell Britain Auer and wife Ginger, and daughter, Dr. Ginger Auer Baker and husband Ryan; grandchildren, Virginia P. Auer, John Marshall S. Auer, Anne-Marie D. Auer, Alexander J. Auer, James Benjamin Auer, Dixey Piper Auer, Mercer Wyatt Auer, Isabel F. Black, William E. Black, Jr., Lillianna F. Black, Wesley L. Black, and one Baker child on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews. Honoring her as pallbearers will be Gilliam "Trey" Woodham, John Marshall S. Auer, Lt. Jon Lee, David Lee, Nilesh Shah, and Kempten Schwab. Honorary pallbearers are Matthew Woodham, Jared Apponey, Kevin Robinette, Donnie Powell, Robert Burleson, Aaron Woodham, Robert Apponey, Matt King and Raymond Browne. Dianne loved plants and flowers, especially white lilies, but she would also be very honored by donations to either Gabriel's Closet, where she worked as a volunteer, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.