Catherine A. Emler

An angel was called home today, Catherine Ann Himes Emler, age 70, died at Maury Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday at 5PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Eric Nichols officiating. A visitation will also be held on Sunday from 4-5PM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Born April 3, 1948 in a small house in Greensfield Bend, TN, Catherine was the daughter of Webb Hill Himes and Mattie Virginia Reunions Himes. Catherine attended Hampshire Unit School.

She made her first career raising her children; sons Billy Harvill, Michael Emler, John Emler and one daughter Virginia Emler Ragsdale. She loved children so much in her later years she worked at Spring Hill Daycare and E.A. Cox Middle School as a cook in the cafeteria. She would enjoy talking with all the students every day. She often came home talking about the joys the students had bestowed upon her.

She was raised during a time that hard work would help you accomplish your dreams. She taught this to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a very kind person that would open her home to individuals that needed a place to stay. She opened her home to several relatives in their time of need and raised them as her own. Wanda Faye Emler and Billy Emler Runions were in laws that shared a special relationship with Catherine. She often opened her home to brothers for extended stays while they drifted from state to state.

She was very active in her family genealogy. She would visit archives and cemeteries locating relatives from her past. She enjoyed locating the stories from newspapers, census and microfilm that brought her ancestors to life again. In her later years, she found herself homebound and could only talk on the phone about her ancestors. She would mail photos to relatives with names and dates that she had found in her pictures. She did all she could to preserve the memories of the past. She loved telling stories of her youth in hope that others would enjoy the memories as much as her.

Survivors include her sons: Billy Ray Harvill of Culleoka, TN, Michael Anthony Emler of Culleoka TN, John Thomas Emler (Jessica) of Hendersonville, TN and one daughter: Virginia Emler Ragsdale (Elton) of Columbia, TN; grandchildren: Jeremiah Ragsdale, Katherine Ragsdale, Krystin Ragsdale, Jackson Emler, Jacob Emler, and Juliana Emler; several great-grandchildren; sister: Bessie Scott of Hampshire, TN; and brother: Robert Himes of Cottonwood, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.

Catherine Ann Himes Emler was preceded in death by her husband: Willis Ozro Emler Jr.; parents: Webb and Mattie Himes; brothers: James Webb Himes, William “Bookie” Himes, Edward Himes, Alonzo Himes, Thomas Himes; and sister: Dorothy Himes Shrader.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pisgah Cemetery Fund: Reliant Bank: 105 Public Square, Mt. Pleasant, TN 38474.