Wilma Embrey

Mary “Wilma” Embrey, 93, of Pilot Grove, passed away Friday, January 12, 2024, at The Neighborhoods at TigerPlace in Columbia.

She was born May 18, 1930, in Pilot Grove, daughter of Raymond and Grace (Schuster) Quinlan.

On December 29, 1951, in Pilot Grove, she was united in marriage to Ralph Duane Embrey.

Wilma was a 1948 graduate of Pilot Grove High School. Her first job was at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, before she was asked to return to Pilot Grove to work at Heinrich’s Store. Later she worked at Hufstutter Orchard in New Franklin.

Wilma was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she supported the Salesian Mission. She was also a supporter of Boys Town. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed gambling at Isle of Capri. She will be remembered for her unwillingness to give up and her “tell it like it is” spirit, but most of all for her lovingkindness.

Surviving are five children, Mark Embrey of Columbia, Joyce Patci (Ken Hawes) of Lexington, KY, Carole Embrey of Sweet Springs, Amy Kincanon (Philip) of Columbia, and Annette Konys (William “Lance” Burgess) of Columbia; twelve grandchildren, Kirk, Megan, Dena, Rick, Clayton, Aubrey, Douglas, Priscilla, Gavin, Kimberly, Gretchen and Esmeralda; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, Jerry Quinlan (Loretta) of Boonville.

She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Quinlan on June 6, 1933; her mother, Grace Quinlan on August 29, 1993; her husband, Ralph Embrey on June 18, 1993; an infant brother, David, on July 4, 1928; a brother, Wilbur Quinlan (Alice) on December 21, 2018; a brother, Earl Quinlan on September 6, 2002; a sister, Doris Koonse (Kenneth) on February 5, 2019; a sister, Marjorie Heim (Milton “Bus”) on April 29, 2019; and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Wilma Konys on September 12, 1996.

Prayers of the Rosary will begin at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, January 20, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with visitation to follow until 10:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Boys Town, in care of the Meisenheimer-Page-Dady Funeral Home in Pilot Grove.