Emily Anne Hunter Neuse

Posted

On Sept. 11, 2018 Emily Anne Hunter Neuse was welcomed into heaven at the age of 72. We know this because of the tremendous love she had for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Emily’s church family at the First United Methodist Church was an enriching part of her life for the last 50 years.  Emily was a living witness of her Christian faith to many of the people she met throughout her life, always offering a warm smile and welcome to everyone no matter their position in life.  She was compassionate, sharing, joyful, forgiving and accepting of all people. 

Emily, one of the few people in Gonzales that was known by her first name alone, always had a positive attitude and appreciation for life and everything good and fun that could be enjoyed along life’s journey. Emily never met a stranger. In fact, total strangers would regularly approach her and strike up a conversation. Everyone soon knew where the other was from and whether or not they had mutual friends. 

Emily was a woman full of energy. She worked hard all her life until she retired at the age of 65 from the Law Office of Forrest Penney. There, she enjoyed a special friendship with Forrest and his wife Sue Penney that remained intact the balance of her life.  Emily began her legal secretary career at the offices of Perkins, Dreyer, Rather and Schroeder working for Denver Perkins for many years.  Prior to this career, Emily ran Weston Ruddock Trucking with her late husband, Weston Ruddock. 

Her most successful career and favorite job of all time was being mom to her two children, Glenn Preuss, II and Stephanie DeBerry Carter. In this role she excelled. She was a loving mother that disciplined her young children, taught them manners and insisted on her children speaking to others politely and with a good strong hand shake. Her children are appreciative of everything their mother did for them over the years as she was always their biggest supporter, protector, cheerleader and pillar of strength. She is already greatly missed by her children. 

Emily was also a woman that knew how to cook. She was not a gourmet chef, but instead the master at cooking good comfort food. She did not know how to make a small meal, loved feeding others and delighted in trading recipes with others. 

Emily was very close to and loved her extended family.  She began hosting Christmas lunch at her home in 1972, a tradition that continued through the Christmas of 2017.  She loved having everyone over, catching up with cousins, entertaining uncles, aunts, and feeding the family her famous turkey and dressing.  In her later years these Christmas get togethers became harder on her, but she insisted that she always host them.  She was always dedicated to her family.

Emily was married to Donald Neuse for 21 years.  Donald was an old-style cowboy and Emily embraced the culture, supported her husband and his work efforts and all the friends that come with cowboying. Here she became a second mom to many cowboys including Bradley Baker and Charles Zella.  She would feed all of them, keep them in line and make sure they had coffee before heading off to work. Her home became their coffee shop where the day started and ended. 

Donald and Emily shared many great years together. If Donald was like an old boot, Emily was like his leather conditioner.  Over the years the leather conditioner that was Emily won out and the old boot softened up. Midway through their marriage Emily convinced Donald to attend a walk to Emmaus.  This was a life changing event for Donald, a proud moment for Emily and proof that a good wife is a gift from God.

Emily’s life can be summed up as a tireless and very successful mother of two, a bundle of energy that was put to good use in her work, church and social life, a caring and compassionate friend to many, many people and finally a woman who loved and accepted Jesus Christ as her lord and savior.  While missed by those that knew her best, she leaves us with many good memories, laughable moments and an appreciation for having her in our lives for the last 72 years.

Emily is survived by her family, Stephanie Dawn Carter and husband Jason of Gonzales; son, Glenn Wayne Preuss, II of Gonzales; and brother, Stephen Leslie Hunter of Ottine. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Neuse; parents, Samuel and Lorine Alex Hunter; and her sister-in-law, Linda Hunter.

A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12 in Gonzales Memorial Park. A life celebration service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 in the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Matt Pennington officiating. The family received friends from 10 -10:45 in the narthex of the church prior to the service. 

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church building fund.  Friends may leave their condolences by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.

Comments