David Edwin Emerson

David Edwin Emerson, 91, of Amarillo, Texas passed away on July 27, 2023, after a long battle with dementia.

Services will be at 1:00 P.M., Monday, August 7, 2023, in the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

David was born on May 15, 1932, in Checotah, Oklahoma. He graduated from high school in Checotah, Oklahoma and then went to attend college at Southeastern College on a football scholarship andmarried Ermyne Faith Snodgrass on August 21, 1953. While in college, he was the student body president. He graduated from Southeastern State College in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. After graduation, David was drafted into the United States Army. After basic training in the Army, he played football both offense and defense for the United States Army. After his discharge from Army, he and Ermyne moved back to Amarillo, and he worked for the U.S. Air Force as a civilian jet mechanics instructor. He later worked as a Chemist at the Helium Research Center in Amarillo beginning in 1957 until he retired in 1994. He was the chief of Technical and Analytical services since 1971. David also served as the Director for Amarillo Federal Credit Union in 1980 and was on the Board of Directors for many years.

David worked as the head of Helium Research. He held several patents in the advancement of helium. He was a member and listed as a noteworthy Chemist of Marquis Who’s Who in American Science. David was active in his church teaching Sunday school, was an elder, and a deacon at First Christian Church. He attended Grace Church for the last years of his life. David loved Jesus and served the Lord his entire life. David owned and operated Southwest Glassblowing Laboratory from 1965-1976 and was a die-hard OU fan for life!

David was preceded in death by his daughter, Carrie Leigh Emerson; mother, Della Emerson; father, David Ervin Emerson; brothers, Don Emerson, and JW Emerson; sisters, Cleo Thompson, and Freida Hanna; and son-in-law, Ben Byrd.

He is survived by his wife, Ermyne Emerson; son, Joe Emerson and his wife Lynn; daughter, Sally Byrd; son, Terry Emerson; sister, Mary Ann Archer; sisters-in-law, Lois and Carol; grandchildren, JoLynn (Zach), JD (Chantal), Kari (Andy),Kirbi, Kristen, Marsha, Tammy (Jimmy), Jamie (Andy); great-grandchildren, Shelby, Zachary, Shadden (Yanet), Tanner, Jesseca (Kit), Ashton, Nico, Caison, Sterling, Sadie, Morgan, and Wyatt; great-great-grandchildren, Sabella, Oliver, Braxton, Zariah.

The family would like to thank their neighbors, Don and Pat, and Mickey and Joey, for taking care of our family in a time of need. They would also like to thankthe three men that brought David home when he wandered away, and Enhabit Hospice for their loving care and keeping him pain free.