Joan Keathley Emmer

Joan Keathley Emmer, 77, of Richmond, TX, passed away at The Village of Sugar Land Memory Care on April 23, 2025. Joan was born January 5, 1948, in Victoria, TX. As she grew up, her family moved to Austin, TX where she graduated from McCallum High School in 1966. Joan then attended the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1970. After college, she taught for 3 years in Austin and met her future husband, Mark Emmer. Joan moved to Houston, TX, and began working for Gulf Research and Development as a computer coder in the geophysics department, while continuing to date Mark. Mark and Joan were married on May 4, 1974.
In 1979, Joan became a stay-at-home mom and dedicated her life to being a loving mother after having her first child, Jessica Marie. A few years later, she gave birth to twin daughters, Sarah Elizabeth and Rachel Lea, in 1981. While raising her daughters, she enjoyed playing softball, singing in her church choir and praise team, volunteering at her daughters' schools and activities, and cheering on her daughters as they played sports. Mark and Joan moved their family to Sugar Land, TX, in 1993.
In 1996, Joan was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. She continued to support her daughters in all their activities and worked as a library aide in Fort Bend ISD until 2008. Mark and Joan moved to Richmond, TX in 2009. Joan enjoyed spending time with her family and two grandchildren, as well as playing cards and games with friends. She was loved and cared for by many friends, family, and caregivers. Joan moved to the Village at Sugar Land Memory Care facility in October 2024. Her last moments were filled with peace and song as she passed, singing earthly hymns to singing heavenly hymns.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Gladys Keathley, and her sister, Fran Carter. She is survived by her husband, Mark Emmer; her daughter, Jessica Cobb, and her husband, Craig; her daughter, Sarah Maas, and her husband, Jason; her daughter, Rachel Emmer; her grandchildren, Ashlyn and Brayden; her sister, Mary Nichols, and her husband, Dean; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all who loved her.
A visitation will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, May 9, 2025 at the Schmidt Funeral Home in Katy, TX with a funeral service following at 2:00 PM. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Heickman Cemetery, Somerset, TX.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Joan's name to secondmile.org. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan, please visit our floral store.