Emsie Lou Muzio

Emsie Lou Muzio was born in San Antonio, Texas July 1928 to Norman and Julia Henne. Emsie and her family resided in New Braunfels. She graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1946 and married Denis McCoy shortly thereafter. That union produced a son- Miles. In 1955 she married Billy Muzio, a marriage that lasted 32 years and produced her daughter- Maria. Billy was in the US Air Force and they lived an exciting military life, with assignments in

Okinawa, Washington DC, Florida and New York State. Billy retired and took a position with Boeing Aerospace in Turkey. They lived there for 12 years.

Emsie came to Christ in 1965. Accepting Jesus Christ was an experience that never left her. The next 10 years were the happiest of her life. She served as a Sunday School, VBS and day school teacher, as well as Sunday School Superintendent. She was on the Evangelism board and heavily involved with the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church LWML women’s group, working as the zone Christian growth chair. Later, Emsie served as the North Alamo Zone president and was nominated for Texas Lutheran woman of the year. In 1971, while Billy was stationed in South Korea, Emsie visited him during the Christmas

season. They visited a Lutheran mission where the first Lutheran Korean pastors were being ordained. She felt honored to witness it. When Emsie initially became a Christian, she said with surprise, “I know who I am- The Lord’s own”. That never changed. While in Turkey from 1975, Emsie and her family attended the Anglican Church in Ankara. There, she taught children ages 5 to 14. She served as president of the Officer’s Wives Club, hosting charity events. Emsie, Billy and Maria loved the Turkish people and traveling throughout that country, including visits to the seven churches of Revelation. They also took opportunities to holiday across much of Europe. Emsie, aka “Tootsie”, played bridge, danced and bowled. Her husband, Billy, preceded her in death- claimed by cancer in 1987. Thereafter, Emsie, her daughter Maria and baby grandson Mikial moved to Killeen, Texas. Maria was stationed there as an Army medical technician. They joined Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, where Emsie became a Stephen Minister. She loved that. Three years later, Maria married an Air Force man, Keith Rogers, and they invited her to move with them to Las Vegas. There, Emsie found Christ Lutheran Church where she became a member and continued as a Stephen Minister. In 2006 she moved back to New Braunfels and lived in the Eden Hills community for more than 10 years. Emsie was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. She was well liked by the staff and residents of Eden Hills for her sparkling personality, affability and trademark laugh. She was an optimist to the end. Emsie passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday May 14th, 2016 at age 87. She is survived by her son, Miles Muzio and daughter-in-law Deborah Muzio of Tehachapi, California, daughter, Draegan Vendetti (Maria Rogers) and son-in-law Keith Rogers of Gilbert, Arizona, three grandchildren, grandsons, Aaron Muzio, Micah Muzio (and his wife Evelyn Muzio) and Mikial Muzio (and his wife Brittany Muzio), granddaughter, Rachael Wiederkehr (and her husband Filipi Wiederkehr); step-grandson, Christopher Rogers, great-grandchildren, Emsie Fay Muzio, William Scott Wiederkehr, and Beatrix Avery Muzio. Emsie leaves a greatly loved sister, Norise and her son Paul. She leaves her dearly loved cousin Imogene Elliot of Houston, her life-long friend Annie Rose Salerno of Georgia. She says farewell to her four true friends of Las Vegas- Barbara Dudman, Lene Carpenter, Silvia Hendricks and Joann Ehlers. She died in Christ and now goes forward to join Jesus, her beloved for 51 years. Emsie Muzio was one of a kind, living life to the fullest- leaving a legacy of smiles and service to her family, her cherished friends and all those who had the good fortune to meet her in life. She will be greatly missed on earth, but not missed in heaven.