Emma Jean Summers, 77, of Morgantown, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2024, surrounded by her loving family, including her husband Raymond, who was always faithfully by her side during her long, difficult journey after a stroke in 2020.
She was born to Johnny Kaiser and Audrey Bea Carper Dunn on Aug. 30, 1946.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her infant sister, Rhonda.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond Summers; her daughter, Raylea Mace and son-in-law, Kevin Mace. Also by her side at the time of her passing were her three treasured grandkids, Parker (Bunny Bear), Audrey (Butterfly) and Caleb (Cubby Bear) Mace. She was their Nana. She is also survived by her brother, Glenn Dunn and his wife, Debbie, of Bruceton Mills, along with nieces, Christy Stoddard, Misty Dunn and Julie Dunn, as well as her nephew, Richard Dunn.
Emma graduated from University High School in Morgantown in 1964. Soon afterward, she married her sweetheart, Raymond Summers, also from Morgantown and a graduate from the rival Morgantown High. They stayed by each other’s side in marriage through thick and thin for 58 years. Next month would have marked their 59th anniversary.
After living in Maryland for eight years, where she worked as a secretary for Westinghouse, they returned back to Cheat Lake to take up the business of rental property as well as a tax business as a bookkeeper. Later, she worked at Sears in the hardware department. Emma worked diligently to keep the house in order, the rental properties in tip-top shape and helping out with the tax business until she became ill.
She was also very involved with her daughter’s life and helped her to pursue her dreams. She was a Girl Scout leader of Raylea’s troop and was involved with her band, color guard and other various activities.
Emma enjoyed preparing for and having parties. She loved to decorate and create wreaths, flower arrangements and could essentially make something from nothing. She was an amateur seamstress and hairdresser, as well as caregiver for her mother-in-law and her own mother as they got older. She was a pillar of strength for her family and taught them many things. She was down-to-earth and always kept it real. She was intelligent and knew a little something about everything, it seemed.
Emma also had a great sense of humor, much like her parents, and loved to tell jokes but often forgot the punchline, which, of course, would make everyone laugh. She loved to play pinochle, rook and other games and loved to cook, often straying from the recipe to create her own dish. Her meatloaf was the best in the world. She loved the occasional yard sale, often making the sellers very happy with her love of buying too much. She traveled with her husband and also with her daughter and her family. Destinations included California, Florida many times, cruises and even Hawaii. She loved camping and enjoyed the outdoors, whether in a travel trailer or more recently, in an RV. She also enjoyed the beach and walking in the sand. Fishing and campfires were highlights of those trips.
Family and friends are invited to gather at Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, and again from 11 a.m. on Friday until the time of the funeral service at noon. Following the funeral service, Emma will be laid to rest at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens.
Condolences:
www.fredjenkinsfuneralhome.com
