Diane Huntley Hamer

Diane Huntley Hamer died peacefully on Sunday, February 3, 2013 in her home with family by her side. She lived in Morganton for the last 48 years of her life. Diane was born in Caldwell County on July 27, 1934. She grew up in Lenoir and always had a love for music. She participated in her high school band chorus, attended the Brevard Music camp, and was awarded the exclusive opportunity to participate in the honorable Brevard music festival. Diane attended Salem College in Winston Salem and married Dr. Alfred Wilson Hamer, Jr. They would have celebrated their 57 wedding anniversary June of this year. Alfred and Diane settled in Morganton, became active members of the First United Methodist Church, and raised four children.Diane believed in the value of travel and used her gifts and talent to improve the material, social, and spiritual welfare of the world by giving of herself to the community and a love for the whole humankind. Diane passed this legacy on to her children and grandchildren. She played active roles in the Burke Council on Alcohol and Chemical Dependency (Head of Fund Raising), Morganton Service League, Church and Community Choirs, and helped to create the First United Methodist Church Columbarium. She discovered, in a field, the stain glass windows from the 1902 Methodist Church, which she later restored and donated to the church. They were installed over the altered of the old Chapel in the church in 2010. Diane was an outstanding Den leader for the Cub Scouts for a number of years, active in the Burke tennis league and a tennis player extraordinaire, United Way volunteer, Treasurer and very active and supportive of the Morganton Swim Club. Diane was a Board member of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She participated in the actual race with her husband, children, and grandchildren by her side shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer over 15 years ago. Diane was very active in and loved restoring, painting, and helping build houses for the less fortunate. She was a proud grandmother of eight grandchildren and was an active part of their lives and their biggest fan. She lived by the philosophy of "paying it forward" and often gave monetary gifts to total strangers. She was best known for her sense of humor, strong conviction, and beautiful smile. She will be deeply missed by all who encountered her wit and courage.She is survived by her husband, four children, and eight grandchildren. Alfred Hamer of the home, Amanda Rotenstreich and husband Kenny of Greensboro and their children Josh and Alex, Melissa Horn and husband Tom of High Point and their children Ramsay and Dillon, Kristan Erwin and husband John of Morganton and their children Huntley and Holland, and Wilson Hamer and wife Dorothy of Morganton and their children Collins and Eliza.The memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. John Fowler, Rev. Dr. Bob Roach and Rev. Todd McCullough officiating. The family will gather with friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial contribution be made to memorials set up in her name through the church First United Methodist Church, 200 N King St., Morganton, NC 28655 to benefit the music department and members of the church who have children in need. They also request that donations be made in her name to Brenner Children's Hospital, Office of Development and Alumni Events, PO Box 571021, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1021.