Emma Meeks

Emma Lucille Meeks

Born in Treasure City, in the Texas panhandle, on November 29, 1933 to Ethel and Rufus Ward Reed.

Died on August 10, 2020 in Schertz, Texas at the age of 86.

Her early life kind of read like the story told in the “The Grapes of Wrath” about an extended family loading up the family truck in the Texas panhandle and traveling to California during the Great Depression to find work. Mother told stories of migrant camps and living in Bakersfield, CA and eventually returning to live in Pampa, Texas at the age of 8. She shared a bedroom in the tiny family home with her grandmother for many years. Ward and Ethel were hard workers and they raised Emma and her brother, Don, to make the best of what they had. In all of my days with Mother I never knew her to make a single complaint… never.

She earned the nickname Pinky in high school because she was small, like a ‘pinky finger’.  She liked that name, but was always precise about being 5 foot and ¾ of an inch! Mother shopped the children’s shoe section often, even after her own children were grown… shopping for herself! She LOVED shoes and had quite the collection when she married Leland in 1954.

Leland captured her heart after meeting at the Pampa burger drive-in in September of 1953 and they were married just four months later. Emma worked as a telephone operator and one Friday night after her shift, the two of them took off to New Mexico to be married. Making it to Clovis, they found the Justice of the Peace to be closed, so they kept driving to Carlsbad, where they were hitched. The couple lived in many places over the coming years. Emma made friends through church, bridge clubs, motorcycling, bowling leagues, golfing, ceramic shops, and in her neighborhoods. She was a whiz at crossword puzzles, cards and board games, and oh, how she could sew! She made everything from household linens to her daughter’s wedding dress!  She enjoyed her jobs at Bell Telephone and Blake’s Lot-a-Burger in Pampa, Texas, at the Mine Supply Company in Salem, Missouri and Grants, New Mexico, and the school cafeteria in Greenwood, Arkansas. She and Leland also created several companies from industrial supply manufacturers to motorcycle accessory shops to fishing trolling motor sales and repair. With her keen mind for numbers and Leland’s sales’ abilities, they prospered.  Emma’s talents were many and she served others often, volunteering at the Acoma Elementary School library in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 60s, the West Angelo Church of Christ and the Cancer Society in San Angelo, Texas in the 80s and 90s. Mother was rarely idle.

The one activity that she enjoyed the most was the motorcycle travels with Leland. From the moment they were married, they took many, many vacations and rides with friends on the motorcycles. Whether it was through the Colorado mountains, the Missouri hills and curves, or the trips to the Grand Ole Opry, she loved having her arms around Leland as they traveled.

She is survived by husband, Leland Meeks, her two children and their spouses:  Timothy (son) and Sheri Meeks, and LaDonna (daughter) and David Ferguson. Emma’s pride and joy were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren: Emma Meeks, Holly Sauer, Jessie Sauer, Megan Ferguson Garcia, Kelly Ferguson Hughes, Savannah Ferguson Shaffer, Ryan Ferguson, Cassidy Ferguson. Her great-grandchildren: Everett Hughes and Lyanna Garcia. Emma/Granny will be dearly remembered and sorely missed by all that knew her.

Emma is predeceased by her parents and brother, Donald Reed.

A family celebration of Emma’s life will be held at her granddaughter’s home in Tuttle, Oklahoma on August 30 ^th . Condolences may be sent to LaDonna Ferguson, 412 Aero Avenue, Schertz, Texas 78154 to be shared with the family.  In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation as a memorial to Emma may do so to the Arms of Hope Children’s Home, 21300 TX-16, Medina, TX 78055 or online at https://community.armsofhope.org/general-donation-form

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