Diana L. Gaugler

Diana McEwen Gaugler, age 76, was returned on angels wings to her heavenly father’s arms on September 3, 2019, where she was reunited with her husband Jim, who proceeded her in death in 2018.  She will finally have her smile and her life back with her husband and both of her parents.

She was born February 3rd 1943 in Panama City, Panama; while her Grandfather, Elmer Gardner, was building the Panama Canal; to Carolyn & Dick Mundee. Soon after Carolyn remarried to Kenneth S. McEwen who raised Diana as her Father and always shared a very special bond between them.

She attended Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas and later attended University Of Texas where she received her Bachelors of Arts Degree. She utilized her degree and gave back to the community as a well-loved teacher at various public and private schools. She retired from teaching at First Baptist Private School in Corpus Christi, Texas where a memorial remains honoring her for her credits as an excellent teacher by both students and fellow faculty members.

In 1980, she married her soulmate and best friend, James Michael or “Jim”, who she enjoyed a life full of joy, adventure, and happiness until his passing on May 27, 2018. With Jim’s passing there was a huge part of Diana that went with him and shall be returned now that they’ve been reunited in heaven.

The family would be honored by anyone who would like to attend a celebration of her life and a memorial of her passing on October 4th from 2-5pm at the Padre Island Yacht Club and October 5th at Trinity By The Sea Episcopal Church in Port Aransas, Texas from 12-3 pm. 

The family asked that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the La Posada Foundation benefiting Toys For Tots which both Diana and Jim were active Board Members of for the past 20 years.

She and Jim had an active and full life on Padre Island, where they served on a number of boards and committees that enriched the community.  They served, and were on the boards of a number of local groups that included the Padre Island Yacht Club, Corpus Christi Live, La Posada Foundation, The Bishops Committee for the West Texas Episcopal Diocese, The Timmons Ministries, Padre Island Tea Party, Padre Island Business Association, and many more. They were always on the ready to give back to the community that they loved so much.

She is survived by her siblings, Kay McEwen Shepard of Plano and Tom McEwen of Lake Jackson, Randy Mundee of Lake Texoma, Dick Mundee of Houston, and Marianne Mundee of Ocala, her children, Scott Harmon of Houston, Colt Harmon of Corpus Christi, James Michael Gaugler Jr and Mary Margaret Gaugler both of Cincinnati, Ohio. She had 9 Grandchildren whom she loved with all of her heart and will be forever remembered as Grams. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband and is now likely playing bridge with the 3 of her predecessors in Heaven or at least so we like to think.