Emmarie Turner Lehnick

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Emmarie Turner Lehnick of Amarillo died May 21, 2022.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2022, at Brooks Funeral Chapel with pastor Jim Shelburne of Washington Avenue Christian Church and pastor/elder Gene Shelburne of Anna Street Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon, Texas.

Emmarie was born on July 11, 1933, on a farm west of Hereford, Texas, to L.M. and

Ellen Wright Turner. She was the youngest of four siblings: Mildred Turner, Katherine Turner Sheppard, Henry Turner, Ludie Turner Greeson.

Emmarie married Edward Lawrence Lehnick on September 9, 1951. They were blessed

with two children, Deborah (Debbie) Lynn Lehnick Talley and Mark Edward Lehnick.

Emmarie and “Eddie” were married for 63 years. He was her lifelong friend and soul mate.

Emmarie graduated from Hereford High School in 1950. She worked as the Recording

Clerk in the Registrar’s Office at West Texas State University while Ed finished college. She was the superintendent’s secy. and bookkeeper for the Friona ISD as Ed began his coaching career. When Ed became the football and track coach in Lefors, Emmarie became the superintendent’s secy. She completed her B.S. degree from West Texas State University and received membership into Alpha Chi for academic achievement.

To be a teacher was her dream. While Ed coached at Pampa and then was named Athletic

Director, Emmarie began teaching English at Pampa Junior High and earned her M.A degree. She later taught speech and English. Her speech classes won many contests. In 1983, Ed was named the Athletic Director of the Amarillo ISD, and Emmarie taught at Crockett Junior High, then Tascosa High School, and finished her teaching career at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

Upon retirement, Emmarie joined Toastmasters and won 13 trophies in 4 years. As a

member of Amarillo’s Inspirational Writers, she was encouraged to write short stories. She had stories published in the Cup of Comfort series, Rocking Chair Reader series, Christian Miracles, Over the Back Fence, It’s a Good Thing, and Good Old Days. She was proudest of her book about her special grandson, Scott, titled I Am Scott.

She loved her volunteer work with the Northwest Texas Hospital Auxiliary and the Ronald McDonald Room.

Emmarie had been the state secretary for the Texas Educational Secretaries Association. She taught Sunday School for 18 years and led the Baptist YWA group for many years. She served as president of the Theta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. The Pampa Optimist Club honored her for the work she did with the Optimist Speech Contest. She was acknowledged twice by America’s Outstanding Teachers. She was a member of Amarillo Retired Teachers Association and Texas Retired Teachers Association.

Emmarie enjoyed home decorating. She truly loved to laugh, especially about some of her dumb episodes.

Emmarie had a lifelong love affair with the Texas Panhandle. Leaving the Panhandle to be cared for by her daughter in Houston was one of the bravest things she ever did. Casual passers-by might think God didn’t make the Texas Panhandle for people to love. Emmarie believed God made people who love the Texas Panhandle, and she was certainly one of them.

Many times, she said, “God put me here to be the mother of Debbie and Mark.”

She felt God selected Eddie to be her mate for life. She loved her Lord, His Word, her Bible Study groups, her Sunday “Thee Fellowship Class,” and her church, Washington Avenue Christian Church. Emmarie was also a member of Deer Park United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed, in 2014, her birth family, and her beloved mother-in-law, Leatha Lehnick Fullerton.

Survivors include a son, Mark and his wife Sheri of Georgetown, Texas, a daughter, Debbie and her husband Barry Talley of Deer Park, Texas, four precious grandboys: Scott Talley, Tyler Talley and wife, Kaylee, Kyle Lehnick, and Landon Lehnick. She has three nieces and five nephews.

The family suggests memorial contributions to either Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo, 1501 Streit Dr., Amarillo, Texas 79106; or, Volunteer Service Council of Brenham State Supported Living Center, 4001 TX Hwy 36, Brenham, Texas 77833