Emily Maude Couch

Emily was born July 29,1934 in Forsyth County a daughter of the late Clenard Reid and Ruby White Lankford. She was one of nine children growing up in a tobacco farming family. As a child of the Great Depression, Emily overcame these difficult times, as did the rest of her family. Industriousness and hard work built a better life. As an independent woman, she built a house in Kernersville, dressed stylishly, drove an MGB, and loved her cocker spaniel Chetsa. Emily graduated from high school and began a career as a draftsman at Western Electric in the electrical engineering field. While raising a family as a fulltime homemaker she became a substitute teacher at Silver Valley Elementary School (4 years), a 4H Club Leader (6 years), a member of the NC Cooperative Extension Agency of Davidson County, a judge at the annual Davidson County Fair, and taught youth art and craft classes in the community.

A blind date brought Emily and Roland (Chip) together. He pawned his guitar to buy a wedding band, and they married three months later on May 7, 1960. He also sported an Austin Healey until the twins (Jan and Jill) were born. In 1963 they moved to the old Jolly homestead in Silver Valley on forty-five acres. The twins would team up for mischief such as stuffing mud in all the household electrical outlets during an unsupervised moment. Motherhood became an even bigger challenge when Stephen was born five years later. He was fascinated with eating earthworms and grubs and playing with matches. Emily found false solace in watching soap operas to help ease the pace of her children’s hyperactivity.

Emily adapted to farm life quickly where ducklings, chicks, kittens, puppies, and piglets followed her wherever she went outdoors. She even befriended baby raccoons, squirrels, and deer, which would cohabitate with the feeding of the farm’s domesticated critters.

Being an active member of the local community, Emily represented the ideal image of the rural All-American homemaker. She made her young children’s clothing. She was able to whip up a tasty meal from scratch for the family. She froze farm produce in preparation for harsh winters. Inborn “Lankford” creativity had a tendency to win out over domestic life. Her artistic eye looked for the largest prized vege, the most perfectly shaped vege, or the most unusual shaped vege that looked like something it was not. Her special hobbies were corn shuck, papier-mâché, and woodcarving creations. She frequently had friends and family seek her out for advice when their creative endeavors were failing.

Favorite family activities included looking for arrowheads in the plowed fields, digging in old junk piles on adjoining wooded properties for collectible finds, and taking impromptu rides out in the country with a picnic lunch in tow. In the summer the Couch property became a yearly meeting place for the “Couch Family Reunion”. It meant a potluck meal, aggressive games of horseshoe, and bass and brim fishing. At Christmas the “Lankford” family gathered for gift exchanges, the sharing of homemade treats, and holiday celebration.

In her early 50s Emily suffered a rare spinal stroke, which required her to reinvent her life to accommodate that. She became a superb bread maker, started scrapbooking, liked to watch live TV news coverage, loved to record hallmark movies, and upped her love of photography. A camera with zoom lens, coupled with an outdoor scooter, allowed her to keep her world large though it might have seemed small to others. Emily continued to enjoy special outings for many years such as visits to uptown Lexington for “Pigs in the City”, visiting the Bob Timberlake Gallery, and going to the Hillsville Antique Show while camping with extended family.

Even after being disabled many years she saw life as having purpose. Her husband as primary caregiver helped her to remain at home to assure that she could continue to participate in the simple pleasures of life. She would have wanted to be remembered for her creativity and passion for living. She never waivered in her spirituality and belief in God and had no fear in dying. Her physical body at age 84 could not keep up with the strong willed woman inside.

She was preceded in death by a sister: Marilyn Settlemyre and two brothers, Leroy and C. R. Lankford, Jr.

Surviving are her husband of 59 years, Roland Paul Couch; two daughters, Jan Couch and Jill (Ray) Lambert, Jr. son, Stephen (Sarah) Couch; five sisters: Judy (Steve) Scott, Virginia Shields, Jeannine Metcalf, Sarah Lankford-Massey and Joyce (Otis) Perkins; and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Emily’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on March 2nd in the Thomasville Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Lynda Hepler. The family will receive friends begining at 12:00pm with light refreshments served. Casual dress is requested. Interment will be private. Memorials may be directed to the charity of the donor’s choice.