Juanita Joyce (Kelly) Embrey, age 84, of Watauga Texas, was called home to her Lord on December 30, 2018, after her courageous 11 year battle with cancer. She was a real fighter and amazing woman.
She was born December 12, 1934, in Tioga Texas, to Dalton Ernest and Mamie Ladell (Kays) Kelly. She was the second child of five children growing up in the country in a farmhouse. She learned early in life to be a hard worker, as she picked a lot of cotton growing up. Her ethics and faith and religion were strong and made her a loving, compassionate woman who would do anything for her family. On December 24, 1952, she married the love of her life, RL Embrey in Tioga, Texas. Just last week, they celebrated 66 wonderful years together. They raised 4 amazing sons to be wonderful loving men in their lifetime together.
Juanita was a devout lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Watauga, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School for over 42 years. She taught her love of the Bible and Jesus to countless children over those many years. As the kids would get older, many of them would always come back to her Sunday School room and visit her, as they held her dear in their hearts.
She loved spending quiet time reading her Bible and praying. She really loved her family deeply and loved caring and cooking for everyone. She graciously cooked and hosted all of the family gatherings and holidays. She made the best desserts in town, if you ever had her brownies or divinity, you know how good they were!
She also loved tending her garden and yard and taking care of her many flowers. She really loved jewelry and shopping around to get a great bargain on anything! She had a wonderful sense of humor and wit that we will all miss and her sweet smile. She always took such good care of everyone around her so well. She will be deeply missed by all her family and many good friends, but she is most definitely with her Lord now and not in any pain. We will all see her again in heaven.
Juanita is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, RL Embrey of Watauga, Texas; children, Rusty Embrey and wife, Lynn of Anadarko, Oklahoma, Brett Embrey and wife, Debbie of Azle, Texas, Bart Embrey and wife, Shelle of N Richland Hills, Texas; Grandchildren, Michael Embrey and wife, Lanese of Chickasha, Oklahoma, Kelly Boelen and husband, Tobias of Lawton, Oklahoma, Darrick Embrey and wife Tricia of Burleson, Texas, Brian Embrey and wife, Angel of Justin, Texas, and Travis Embrey of Watauga, Texas. Also survived by brothers Ernest Kelly of Collinsville, Texas, JC Kelly and wife, Barbara of Valley View, Texas, and Ted Kelly of Gainesville, Texas; a sister, Janet (Kelly) McKnight and husband Jack of Tioga, Texas. She is also survived by 13 Great-grandchildren and one Great-great grandchild. And many other relatives and friends.
Juanita is preceded in death by her beloved son, Rickey Dale Embrey; sweet grandson, Darren Dale Embrey; and her wonderful parents, Dalton and Mamie Kelly.
The family will receive friends during a visitation to be held at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 300 Pecan Street, Gunter, Texas 75058 on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. A funeral service will follow beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. stjude.org