Louise S Emerson

She is survived by her children Marilyn Schmidt and son-in-law Bruce Schmidt, Wally Emerson, Lawrence, Kansas and daughter-in-law Connie Hauenstein Emerson, Lawrence, Kansas; grandchildren Brian and Jason Schmidt, Evan and Brooke Emerson; nieces and nephews Harvey Smith, Marie Elaine Howard, Helen Price, Donnie Smith and Nancy Smith; great grandchildren Jack and Elliot Emerson, Greta Griffard, Madison and Andrew Terry-Schmidt; and countless cousins of varying degrees.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Elizabeth Smith; husband of 55 years, Walter Emerson; siblings, Roy, Harvey, Lewis, Uel, Billy Joe Smith and Mary McLain; niece and nephews, Marybeth Houser, Lewis, Bert and David Smith.

Louise grew up in Thayer, Missouri, a small railroad town next to Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. She was a middle child among seven children and loved sharing stories and family history. As a toddler she was nicknamed Toots which remained her name within the family. There is no such person as Aunt Louise. She is Aunt Toots.

Her father was an engineer for the Frisco Railroad and a special treat each of the children enjoyed was riding with him to Memphis. And when the family was camping at Mammoth Spring or on Spring River, he would toss a block of ice to the campers as the train passed by. Railroad work sustained the family during the Depression and Louise learned about generosity when her father brought home fellow workers for a meal and her mother, Elizabeth, was known for leaving an extra meal on the stoop for anyone who needed it.

Louise and her sister, Mary, moved to Kansas City where Louise joined the World War II effort building airplanes for Pratt and Whitney. She continued working until retirement from TWA in 1987. She enjoyed work, made many lifelong friends there and always said that working kept her young. Through TWA, Louise was able to fully develop the travel bug she got at an early age when her father took her on a drive and gave her a map to find the way. Coupled with being the family photographer as a youngster, she was always ready for an adventure. She and Walt traveled the world making many excursions to Europe, the Middle East, Hawaii and the Caribbean. They were also able to make frequent visits to Las Vegas to visit their daughter, Marilyn, and her family.

Louise and Walt were active members of Swope Park Baptist Church (later Grace Point Baptist Church) from 1954. After retirement, Louise worked as a volunteer for many years at Baptist Memorial Hospital.

She was a master knitter and quilter from an early age. She loved to share her work and was always knitting something for someone. Her family is blessed with many beautiful pieces made by her hands with love.

After becoming a widow in 2004 and living independently for eleven years - but giving up driving at age 90 - Louise moved to an assisted living facility in Lawrence, Kansas in 2015. In 2017 she moved to Henderson, Nevada to live with Marilyn and her husband, Bruce Schmidt. That was Louise’s last trip and she took it in style. She shared the 25-hour Amtrak journey with her daughter in a sleeping cabin with all the amenities.

Louise will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. She left a mark on the world. It is written in love and kindness by an indomitable spirit.