William Paul Embick

William "Chilly Willie" Paul Embick, 75, an Army Veteran and resident of Silver City, NM, entered eternal rest Sunday, November 24, 2024 at Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson, AZ. He was born July 4, 1949 to his parents, Levi Edward and Josephine Verta (Morrow) Embick in Silver City, NM.
Bill was raised on a ranch in the White Signal area, learning independence and the value of hard work early on, and attended the one-room schoolhouse there with his siblings and many other children from the ranching families in the foothills of the Burro Mountains. He loved his parents completely. As a boy, he tried his best to keep up with his older sister, Vick, and he always appreciated her guidance. Through the years, he enjoyed exploring, hunting, riding motorcycles, and making music with his brother, John. He spent many hours with his younger sister, Nell, sharing food, drinking Pepsis, and letting the sun set as they philosophized about the world's problems.
After the family moved their home base to Cottage San, outside of Silver City, Bill began his high school career at Silver High, and went on to graduate from Cliff High School in 1968. At 19, he enlisted in the United States Army, and worked as a heavy equipment operator, clearing land in Thailand and Vietnam during the Vietnam War, affectionately naming his dozer New Mexico's #1 Stump Jumper and Rose Mary's Baby. When he returned to the states, his dozer's namesake, Rose Mary, became his wife, and they had three children together.
Over the years, Bill worked throughout southwestern NM for Hamilton Construction, and as a dozer operator at the Santa Rita, Chino, and Tyrone mine pits. He and his wife ran their own business, Embick Trucking, from the mid-1980s through the early 2000s, and Bill enjoyed hauling dirt, gravel, building supplies, and livestock for the surrounding communities. He eventually returned to the mines, retiring from Freeport-McMoRan at the Tyrone mine in 2015. The joys of his life were found in family connection, especially with his wife, children, and grandchildren, and continuing to work the ranch he affectionately referred to as "Down Home."
He is survived by his loving wife, Rose Mary (Payne) Embick of the family home; his son, John Embick (Jaime) of Safford, AZ; his daughters, Lynn Embick (David Hayden) of Fort Myers, FL and Wanda Offutt (Jason) of Animas, NM; his brother, John O. Embick (Sunday) of Lebanon, MO; his sister, LaNell Jones (Jim) of Arenas Valley, NM; his seven grandchildren, Dal, Jaycee, Alex, Ryan, Ziggy, Orin, Addy Mae; his one Great-grandchild, Merrick Palmer; his numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ann Victoria Moore,; his brother-in-law, James "Gandy" Moore; his sister-in-law, Arlene Anne Embick; and his nephew, Jeromy Daniel Jones.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 10:00am at Terrazas Funeral Chapels.
Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trust care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.