Emrick

Stella I. Davis Emrick, 85, of Westwood Manor, Butler, died at 3:38 p.m. Monday in Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born Oct. 17, 1924, in Tulsa, Okla., she was the daughter of the late Robert E. Davis and Loretta Craig Davis.

Mrs. Emrick graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a triple major in German, French and Spanish. She graduated in two years, Magna Cum Laud, with a bachelor of science degree. She earned a master's degree and a doctoral equivalency from the University of Pittsburgh and did post graduate studies at the University of Maine and the University of Besancon, France.

She went on to become a teacher in the Butler School District, retiring in 1988 after 33 years of service. She taught French in the elementary program for 13 years and German in the senior high school for 18 years, where she also was chairman of the foreign language department. She also taught the gifted program at Emily Brittain School and Spanish and German at night school. She was awarded the Teacher of the Year in 1967 by the Butler School District.

Mrs. Emrick also taught practicum classes at Grove City College, and she taught the gifted program under Nelson Hale at Slippery Rock University. Mrs. Emrick acted as a consultant for the Department of Education at Duquesne University, California State College, Seton Hill College, Carnegie Mellon University, Shippensburg State College and the Wyoming Valley School District in Scranton.

In 1967, she was awarded the Educator of the Year award from the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association. Mrs. Emrick developed the elementary foreign language curriculum for the state of Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Emrick was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, the Butler Education Association and the National Education Association.

Mrs. Emrick is survived by her son, James G. Emrick Jr. of Kittanning; eight grandchildren, Roshelle Emrick, James Emrick and his wife, Carissa, Alicia Emrick and Keith Krauchak, Kasella Emrick, Frank "Rocky" Emrick, Christian Emrick, Shane Emrick and Josie Emrick; and 10 great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her special friends Pete Mantzaris, Judy Grossman, Mary Morando and Larry Boggs.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Emrick was preceded in death by her husband, James "Bert" Emrick Sr., whom she married June 11, 1941, and who passed away Jan. 7, 1996; and by one sister and a special cousin.

<B>EMRICK</B> — Friends of Stella I. Davis Emrick, who died Monday, Feb. 22, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home Inc.</B>, 124 E. North St., Butler. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Pastor Joe DiDonato, of the Christian Harness Horsemen's Association, and Pastor Bob Stauffer, of Gateway Community Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Butler County Memorial Park.Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association of Western Region, Wexford Professional Building II, Suite 2104, 11676 Perry Highway Wexford, PA 15090; or to the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America (RTCA), The Meadows, 10 Racetrack Road, Washington, PA 15301.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.