Pauline Mae Emery

Pauline Mae Emery of Dickinson, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on October 2nd, 2026, at the age of 88. She was born in Medford, Massachusetts on May 30th, 1938, to Richard Truman Shephard and Leatha Marjorie Shephard.

The family moved to California just before she started school at Sun Valley Jr. High. After 9th grade graduation she went onto North Hollywood High School and left during her junior year. Many years later she would go on to take GED classes and obtain her Certificate of Completion.

She started working for a Laundry/Dry Cleaning Company in the late 1950’s and worked her way to learning all the stations and becoming the Lead Floor Person. In later years after most of her children finished school she went back to work as a noon-aid at Hawthorne Elementary School, in Ontario California.

She met Arthur W. Emery on October 21st of 1960 and 3 days later (October 24th) they went to Las Vegas and got married. They were married 49 years and 4 months when Arthur passed away. They had 6 children and 8 grandchildren.

She enjoyed crossword puzzles and word search books, and reading anything by James Patterson. She also enjoyed drawing, painting, sewing, scrapbooking and crocheting. There were several trips taken with Arthur, and a family trip to New York to visit with his family.

Pauline was preceded in death by her Husband Arthur W. Emery, Sr., her son Jeffrey A. Stark, and daughter Donna G. Emery. Her parents Richard and Leatha Shephard. Her siblings Robert I. Shephard, Dorothy C. Shephard, Richard T. Shephard, Jr., and David A. Shephard.

Also preceding her were her nephew Robert (Bobby) Shephard and niece Kari Kent-Shephard. Sister-in-Laws Susan Shephard, Vera Shephard, Sherri Shephard, Susie Oehlbeck and June Emery. Best Friend Lonnie A. Johnson. Brothers-in-Law Raymond Morrill and Robert Emery. And Son-in-Law William Buck.

Surviving children of Pauline are Marjorie J. Buck, Arlene F. McMeekin, Arthur W. Emery, Jr, and Adam F. Emery, as well as Son-in-Law Shawn McMeekin and Daughter-in-Law Cory L. Emery.

Surviving grandchildren are Matthew J. Ward, Christopher S. Sargent-Stark, Ryan Zieman, Nicole Casillas-Stark, Erin M. McMeekin, Luke A. Emery, Maggie J. Albin and Keely L. Emery. Also, Julia Peterson-Murllin.

Surviving Sister Arlene M. Harand, and Sisters-in-Law Belva Morrill and Wendy Emery, and Brother-in-Law Clarence Emery.

She leaves behind nieces and nephews Donald Shephard, Richard Shephard, Jodee Rice, Rhonda Shephard-Plummer, Tammy Shephard, Shawn and Shane Shephard, Jeannie Cape, Nancy McGuire, Janet Hephner, Gwendolyn Morrill, Fran Norsworthy, Terri Diaz, Lynda Morrill, Clancy Emery, Leo Morrill, Krystal Ecker, Brooklyn Morris and Joshua Morris.

Over the years she collected some of our friends as her “other kids” – Sandi Portner, Michael Johnson, Debbie Barr, Shelly Scherer, Angel Rutan, Joanna Pugh, Robb Whitaker, Chris Fresta, Melissa Rota and Paul Arthur Rota.