Shirley Lee Emerick

Shirley Lee Emerick

February 2, 1936 – August 6, 2025

Longtime Alamosa, Colorado, resident Shirley Lee Emerick sadly passed away, surrounded by loved ones, at the Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation in San Antonio, Texas. She was born February 6, 1936, in Aurora, Colorado, to Lee and Vera Rice. She grew up in both Kansas and Colorado. On February 15, 1952, she married her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life of 66 years, Norwon Dean (Norm) Emerick. Together they raised three children: Adina, Phil, and Donna.

Throughout her long life, she maintained her love for God, family, and friends; her strength, grace, generosity, and compassion; and her appreciation of nature, adventure, and all things fun. She loved her "fur babies" and furry friends, particularly cats and dogs-all of her pets and everyone else's too. She loved sewing, playing the piano and singing, teaching her husband how to sing, watching movies (from James Bond to westerns, comedies, and cartoons), reading mystery and romance novels, fishing, camping, motorcycle road trips, RV living, going on cruises and to casinos with her niece, watching football and soccer with her son-in-law, museums and history, and traveling to different countries. She loved it all.

For many years, she and Dean (Norm) co-owned Valley Parts House in Alamosa, along with their childhood friends, Andy and Phyllis Kirkegaard, with whom they also spent many winters in Yuma, Arizona, during retirement.

Following Dean's passing in 2018, Shirley moved to Lancaster, California, to live with her daughter, Adina, and granddaughter, Keri. After Keri's passing in 2019, Shirley and Adina relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where they lived with her granddaughter, Kandi, and her husband, Brian Barrell. Shirley remained in Texas until her passing on August 6, 2025.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Vera Rice; her stepmother, Olive Rice; her husband, Dean; her siblings, Phyllis Hall and her husband, Victor, and Richard Rice and his wife, Bernita; her granddaughter, Keri Free; close friends Andy, Phyllis, and Kenney Kirkegaard; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

She is survived by her children: Adina Free of San Antonio, Texas; Phil Emerick of Alamosa, Colorado; and Donna Cryer Cox (Howard) of Del Norte, Colorado; her grandchildren: Kandi Barrell (Brian) of San Antonio, Texas, and Clark Free of Calhoun, Kentucky; great-grandchildren: Haylee, Dagan, Danyella, Seamis, and Eldean; and great-great-grandchildren: Oaklee Mae and Luna. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Duane Emerick; stepsister, Robyn Beaty; the children of Andy and Phyllis Kirkegaard, Sheryl Suhr (Rick) and Larry Kirkegaard (Joanne); and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Shirley was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who was deeply loved and cherished. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.

As per her wishes, cremation was chosen and a private family celebration of life will be held at a later date. She will be laid to rest in her beloved Colorado next to her husband, Dean (Norm).

To leave online condolences, tributes, and words of comfort, please use the tribute wall on the obituary listing on website of M.E. Rodriguez Funeral Home, San Antonio, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to your favorite charity.

Memorials may be made to Online condolences can be made at https://www.merodriguez.com/. Funeral arrangements were trusted to M. E. Rodriguez Funeral Home, 511 Guadalupe Street San Antonio, TX 78207, (210) 226-6111.