Obituary for George Reuben Emery George Reuben Emery of Yuba City, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 29, 2018, at the age of 93. The youngest of five children, George was born on March 17, 1925, to Clarence Artemus Emery and Violet Georgia Stephenson Emery in the birthing house in Meridian. During World War II, George enlisted in the Army on May 27, 1943, two months after his 18th birthday, and received his high school diploma from Yuba City High School.
During the war he served in New Guinea, and in the Philippines. He was honorably discharged at Camp Beale, now Beale Air Force Base, on February 17, 1946. One month later on March 17, 1946, George married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Shyrlie Jean Hixson in Reno, who had been waiting patiently for him to return from the war.
They celebrated their 72nd Wedding Anniversary on March 17, 2018. George was a well known fast pitch softball pitcher in the Yuba-Sutter area playing on the Kappa, Marysville Native Sons, Lions, and Morrison Petroleum’s Softball Teams in the 1940’s and 1950’s. While in the Military before going overseas, he pitched for the 753rd Military Police Battalion Softball Team in Reno and the Camp McQuaide Softball Team near Santa Cruz.
In the 1950′ s while living in Benicia, George pitched for the Benicia Arsenal Bomber’s Softball Team, where he was given the nickname “Moose” Emery and always lead his teams to league championships. For more than 20 years George was very active in the Peach Bowl Little League as a baseball coach, board member, Babe Ruth coach, and ran the concession stand, even after his own son was too old to play. Besides playing ball and coaching, George’s loved to go deer hunting with his sons, son-in-law, and friends.
For him it was always more about having fun with the guys and bringing back the tales of their adventures to be told and retold for years, than actually getting a deer. But his biggest pleasure was sitting on the deck at Donner Lake or Ft. Bragg or at his pool, surrounded by his family.
George worked as a service manager for the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Yuba City for 35 years retiring in 1988. George is survived by his wife Shyrlie, his five children, Richard Emery of Sugarland, Texas; Phyllis Bullard of Yuba City; Barbara (Mike) Titus Gunter of Anderson; Ronald Emery of Troy, Missouri; and Kristie (Hal) Fisher of Citrus Heights; his four grandchildren, Steven Lowell, Jesse Titus, Timothy Bullard, and Angela Bullard Shields; and his great grandchildren Jesse, Jake, Jordan, Erin, Brennan, Carson, Dylan, and Lauren, and one great, great granddaughter, Margo. George is preceded in death by his parents: his siblings, Evelyn Day, Howard “Bud” Emery, Phyllis Emery who died at the age of 3, and Betty Thompson; his grandson Steven Lowell, and his son-in-law, Terry Bullard.
George will be remembered for his kind heart, gentle spirit, his willingness to help anyone in need, his sense of humor, his approachable nature, and his love for his family and friends. George will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, especially his children and grandchildren, and those who learned the love for and the skills of baseball and softball from him. A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 8, 2018, at 10 a.m. at the Sutter Cemetery at 7200 Butte Avenue in Sutter.
A reception will follow the service at the Emery home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Sutter County Museum, or the charity of your choice. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of George Reuben Emery please visit our Sympathy Store.
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