Emery C. Waters

Emery Curtis Waters

On October 7, 2016, one of our Greatest Generation - Emery Curtis Waters - departed to be with the Lord.

Emery was born in in Beech Grove (Cullman County), Alabama on September 19, 1924 as the son of Ola Mae (Calvert) Waters (1897 - 1978) and Hubert Edward Waters (1891 - 1979). His mother, Ola, was the daughter of James (“Jimmie”) Calvert and Sarah Jane Livingston. His father, Hubert, was the son of Thomas Nathan Waters and Ida (King) “Tennessee” Waters.

Emery was born fourth in a line of six children, chronologically being: Omery Gurtis Waters (1914); Alma Lola (Waters) White (1917); Eva Lorene (Waters) Freeman (1920); Emery Curtis Waters (1924); Eunice Olene (Waters) Ponder (1930); and Emitt Edward Waters (1934). Each of his siblings are deceased, other than his youngest sister, Eunice. Among his brothers and sisters, there were 6 nieces and 8 nephews.

Emery grew up in an agricultural family in Cullman County, learning the value of work, sacrifice, commitment, and love for the Lord. As a young child during the Great Depression of 1929-1939, he was molded by the need for hard work with minimal expectations. During his formative years, he attended Beech Grove Elementary and Cold Springs High School, while assisting with work on the farm.

In February, 1944, at the age of 18, Emery enlisted in the United States Navy with expectations of participating on the front lines of the U.S. defense in the Pacific Rim. With the attack on Pearle Harbor being only 2 years earlier, he was a freshly trained anti-aircraft gunner with his sights on serving his country. After participating in multiple surges with the 7th Amphibious Forces in and around the Philippine Islands, on November 24, 1944 his ship was the subject of a heavy air attack near the island of Leyte, where he took direct enemy aircraft fire with wounds than ended his military role on the front lines. After his official discharge in May of 1946, with honors that included the Purple Heart, Emery returned to his home in Cullman, Alabama to re-start his civilian life.

On August 16, 1948 at the age of 23, Emery married the love of his life, Ilavee Clarice Waters, who was a young 19-year-old co-ed at Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama). They recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. Ilavee is the daughter of Ollie L. (Stricklin) Swann and Bertus W. Swann.

After a few years of moving between Brushy Pond and Birmingham while alternatingly pursuing his careers in trucking, aircraft repair, and farming, Emery and Ilavee settled in Birmingham with their sons, Gary Dale Waters (1951) and Gregory Neal Waters (1953), and Emery began a 34-year career in transportation operations.

Emery’s oldest son, Gary, attended Auburn University and is married to Suzanne/ “Susie” Marie Waters (1961) who has a daughter, Lauren Nichole/ “Nicki” Bowen (1983) and a son, William/ “Bill” Donald Bowen (1987), who has a son, Cayden Isaac Bowen (age 7). His youngest son, Greg, also attended Auburn University and is married to Patricia/“Pat” (Gibbons) Waters, and they have a daughter, Blakeley Lynn (Waters) Clark (1978), and son, Gregory Neal Waters II (1981). Blakeley is married to William/ “Will” Avery Clark and they have a daughter, Mia Lynn Clark (age 6) and twin sons, Samuel/ “Sam” Avery Clark (age 4) and Jackson/ “Jack” Avery Clark (age 4). Neal is married to Jenna Lynn (Ward) Waters and they have a daughter, Madison Lynn Waters (age 2). All of Emery’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren live in or near Atlanta, Georgia.

After retiring in 1989, Emery and Ilavee moved from the Birmingham area (Pleasant Grove) back to Cullman County but later relocated to Gardendale Alabama where they have called home since 1993. After relocating to Gardendale, Emery and Ilavee became members of Gardendale Baptist Church, that is their spiritual home today.

Emery was a great patriot; a committed Christian; a life-long advocate for organized labor; a “Red Dog Democrat” (until “converted” during the Reagan Era); a loyal Auburn fan; a devoted husband of 68 years; and a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. This trooper of our Greatest Generation fought hard, valiantly, and wounded over the past few weeks - as he did as a 19-year-old World War II Purple Heart recipient in the South Pacific. He is now getting settled in his new home with our Lord and with his former family and friends who went before him.