Vincel "Vince" Lee Emery

Vincel "Vince" Lee Emery, 89, of Oak Grove, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at Lee's Summit Medical Center. Vince was born Jan. 24, 1921, to Harvey and Harriet (Shaver) Emery in Vernon County, Mo. He attended school at Milo and Nevada, Mo., graduating in 1939 from Nevada High School. After high school, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, Mo. He married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Evans on April 11, 1941, and they enjoyed 57 years together before her passing in 1998. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the European Theatre in the 82nd Airborne and 94th Infantry Divisions. After returning from service, he owned and operated the H.L. Emery & Sons' Feed and Grain Elevator in Nevada, Mo., with his father and brother for several years. In 1960, he and Mary opened the Vince Emery Marine Supply in Nevada where they served boating customers in a multi-state area. After his retirement in 1973 from the marine business, he drove a school bus for the Nevada school district until 1986, where he enjoyed transporting students, sports teams and academic groups from kindergartners through high school seniors.

He and Mary were long-time residents of Nevada before moving to Oak Grove, Mo., in 1990 to be near their daughter and family. Here he enjoyed helping his son-in-law and extended family with the hay operation on their dairy farm,

Vince was an avid outdoorsman, whether fishing, hunting, farming or boating on the lake and shared this love with many by teaching them the techniques of fishing, and water sports. He loved spending time with his family and friends and was always there to help out whenever needed. He will be deeply missed by all.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Harriet Emery; two brothers, Frank and Leo Emery; his wife, Mary Emery; and his son, Evan Emery.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Bob Richard of Oak Grove; daughter-in-law, Linda Emery of Albuquerque, N.M.; five grandchildren and their spouses, Cheral and Brian Smith of Johnstown, Colo., Karen and Dan Hambleton of Albuquerque, N.M., Stacy and John Wittman of Oak Grove, Mo., Kim and John Renfroe of Northport, Ala., and Matt and Meg Richard of Olathe, Kan.; and five great-grandchildren, Tyler, TJ, Rachel, Hannah and Sarah.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 2, at the Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, Mo. Burial will be in the Blue Springs Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., preceding the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church of Oak Grove, 400 Southeast 14th Street, Oak Grove, MO 64075.

Arrangements made by Royer Funeral Home-Grain Valley, Mo. (816) 847-4441