Nov 13, 2012

Marilyn C. Emery, 78, of Washington, was called home to the Lord Sunday, November 11, 2012, in home in Washington.

She was born December 14, 1933, a daughter of the late Ralph Batson and Evelyn Elizabeth Brown Carroll.

Mrs. Emery graduated from Washington High School and Muskingum College in Ohio, with a degree in music education, having been an active member of KONA Club and Acapella Choir.

On June 10, 1955, in Washington, she married Donald Glenn Emery. They moved to Quantico, Va., then to Camp LeJeune, N.C., where he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Mrs. Emery taught in the Marine Corps Base School at Camp LeJeune and was organist at the Protestant Chapel on the base.

Upon returning to Washington, Mrs. Emery taught music in Trinity Area School District and chorus at Immaculate Conception High School.

She served as church organist for First Lutheran Church and as choir director at First Christian Church. Later, she served as director of music and organist for Laboratory Presbyterian Church, where she was a member. She retired from there in 2010.

Mrs. Emery was very active in the local music and theater scene for many years, and performed in and directed the orchestra for several Washington Community Theater productions. She was accompanist and orchestra director for 10 years of musicals at Bentworth High School.

Mrs. Emery also played for many shows with local musical groups Guys and Dolls and Top Shelf. Over the years, Mrs. Emery also taught dozens of private piano lessons in her home for children.

She had a beautiful soprano voice, and sang for many weddings. She loved spending time with her family and was interior decorator for all of them.

Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Donald; son Bryan Ralph Emery; daughter Kristin Elizabeth Emery; sister Nancy Carroll (Edwin) Andrew; nephew Scott Edwin (Victoria) Andrew; niece Sonja Andrew (Paul) Heidish; two great-nephews; two great-nieces; several cousins; sister-in-law Blanche Gibson Emery; and two nieces, Susan Emery (John) Heher and Cedra Emery (Ray) Ferington.

Deceased, in addition to her parents, are brother-in-law Charles H. Emery and sister-in-law Gwen Emery (Jack) Moore.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 15, with the Rev. David Stammerjohn officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray. The family suggests memorial donations be made to Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital, 155 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301; or the ALS Foundation, 416 Lincoln Avenue, Millvale, PA 15209. Additional information and a guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.