Emma Hofmeister

Emma was born Emma Martha Peery on June 16, 1918 in Maryville, Tennessee. Shortly thereafter her parents and older sister, Osa, moved to “the ranch” near Monticello, Utah. She grew up with many long lasting memories of this special place, one of which was the birth of her younger sister Eddie Mae--who with two older sisters like Osa and Emma was lucky to survive her time in the wild west. A memory she spoke of often was of the Indians that lived in the canyon nearby who would come to get water from the well pump which had been offered up for them to use. As the story goes almost every time they would come to get water they would bring a new person with them, who was the one designated to look up the spout and watch for the water. Of coarse the water would come out in one rushing moment and the victim would get a face-full, at which the others would all have a great laugh.

After about 10 years in Southeastern Utah they moved back to Tennessee for a few short months, but the humidity was just too much. They left to return to “the ranch”, but stopped to stay with some acquaintances in Golden, and there they stayed. Her stories of Golden were often around the cliff-climbing adventures to the top of North Table Mountain, and sliding on a board down the old tram rails that went up to Castle Rock on South Table Mountain.

Emma graduated from Golden High School in 1935 at 16 years of age. Within a couple of months of graduation she started to work at The Coors Porcelain Co. and not too long after married Cliff Bussert, and had two sons, Ed and Dave.

She continued to live in Golden until the late 50’s when she got remarried to Ed Hofmeister and moved to Evergreen where she owned a dress shop followed by a restaurant—The Fountain. Not too long into her new entrepreneurial endeavor a new surprise came along at age 42—a third son, Joe. Within a year or so thereafter she sold The Fountain and returned to work at “the pottery”. She lived in Evergreen until she retired from the porcelain company in the early/mid 80’s and moved to Battlement Mesa in Western Colorado. As was her style, she developed many friends through her hospitality and caring nature during her 25+ years there.

She left the Western Slope in 2008 and returned to Golden. She lived at Golden Pond Retirement Community for the past 3+ years where she loved bingo and the happy hour entertainment. She felt at “ home” being in Golden again, and now we know for sure that she is truly “HOME”.

Emma is survived by her three sons Ed (Sue) Bussert of Hammond, Oregon; Dave (Judy) Bussert of Grand Junction, Colorado; and Joe (Sheryl) Hofmeister of Westminster, Colorado; nine grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and three great, great grandchildren; and numerous other children and adults alike that knew her as Grandma, “Granny”, and friend.

She was preceeded in death by her husband, Ed in 1971; her sisters Eddie Mae in 2008 and Osa 2009; and her parents Samuel in 1953 and Minnie in 1989.

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Woods Chapel, Golden, CO.