Emmett Arl Autrey

Emmett “Papa “Autrey, 82, of Amarillo Texas passed away on August 7, 2023.  Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, August 14, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Second Baptist Church, 419 N. Buchanan St. with Brother Wayne Griffin and Brother Mike Cumming will be officiating. The family will receive family and friends for viewing and visitation on Sunday August 13, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. 

Emmett was born in Woodson, Texas on June 23, 1941 to Jim and Susie Autrey.  He lived his younger years in Woodson then the family moved to Ira, Texas where he grew up.  He went to school at Ira Independent School where he graduated in May 1959.  Emmett then went to further his education at college in San Angelo.  He left there to join the Army.  Emmett spent three years in Germany, where they were being held to be able to go to Vietnam if needed.  When he got home in 1962, he married Alice Dean (Boatman) Autrey on July 24, 1964. They shared 59 years together. Three sons were born to them; James in 1966, David in 1968, and Mark in 1970.

Emmett loved education, he used his VA benefits and enrolled at the University of Texas in Arlington, TX, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He then moved his family to Wichita Falls, Texas. Emmett went on to further his education at Midwestern State University, where he earned a Masters of Arts degree in July 1989. 

Emmett loved to hike in the woods. In 1990 while in California, he started to hike the Angeles Mountain range.  Then he became interested in the Pacific Crest Trail, which consists of 2,600 miles, which runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada.  Emmett completed 1,500 miles of it – or near there.  Many times he had friends who would join him and sometimes one of his sons would go. But most usually he would hike alone.  He truly loved the hike. In 2008, he had hurt his back and decided he had better not go hiking any more alone. 

Emmett surrendered to gospel ministry in 1975. He pastored at The First Missionary Baptist in Cleburne, TX, then at Missionary Baptist in Paducah, TX, and then on to Missionary Baptist in Healdton, OK. Emmett loved the Bible.  He could talk all day on any given subject in the Bible. 

After his time in ministry he started to work in Municipal Water Works.  He started at the River Road Water Plant in Amarillo, Texas in 1969 as a chemist in the lab. In 1971, Emmett moved his family to Ft Worth, Texas for a short time. The family would spend time in Sweetwater, TX; Wichita Falls, TX and Montrose, California; where he served as the Water Superintendent in each city. Emmett then moved his family back to Wichita Falls, TX for a brief period. In 1995, the family moved to Amarillo, TX where he went to work for the City of Amarillo at the Water Plant as the Water Superintendent. He worked his way up to Director of Utilities until he retired in 2009.

Emmett always loved learning and teaching. He tutored many of his employees at the water plant here in Amarillo to get their Double A license - A in water – A in waste water. It gave them an advantage to grow in their chosen career.  He was the President of the TWUA (Texas Water Utilities Association) for a year. Emmett would go to Corpus Christi to teach classes to help folks further their careers. That was for all over the state.  He usually taught Math, in which he wrote the book for them to teach from – it’s still being used today. Emmett loved this aspect of his job, because he loved to teach. 

He loved to do woodworking.  Emmett made all three of our granddaughters a beautiful hope chest for their birthdays.  They still treasure them today and will forever.

He loved everything analytical or history.  The family has a saying, “if you want to know anything, ask Emmett, he knows everything.” Usually that remark was true. Emmett loved discussing any subject with accuracy. He loved learning, be it Biblical or secular. Emmett was dearly loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Emmett is preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Susie Autrey; and his brother, William Autrey

He is survived by his wife, Dean Autrey, of the home; his oldest son, James from Abilene; his middle son David, from Amarillo; and his youngest son, Mark and wife Kathryn from Amarillo; his three granddaughters Staci Rodriquez and her husband Steven and their children from Abilene; Rachel Garris and her husband Nathan and their children from Amarillo; and Taylor Autrey and her fiance Jantzen Finney from Amarillo; and Logan Autrey that lives in our home in Amarillo; his two brothers, James Earl Autrey and his wife Neva from Hico, Texas and their family; Ronney Autrey and his wife Lindabeth from Snyder TX and their children; his sisters, Golda Evers and her husband Ed from Merkel, TX and their children; Linda Sue Martin and her husband Bill from Granbury TX. Survivors also include ahost of other family members and dear friends.

Emmett “Papa “Autrey, 82, of Amarillo Texas passed away on August 7, 2023.  Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, August 14, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Second Baptist Church, 419 N. Buchanan St. with Brother Wayne Griffin and Brother Mike Cumming will be officiating. The family will receive family and friends for viewing and visitation on Sunday August 13, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. 

Emmett was born in Woodson, Texas on June 23, 1941 to Jim and Susie Autrey.  He lived his younger years in Woodson then the family moved to Ira, Texas where he grew up.  He went to school at Ira Independent School where he graduated in May 1959.  Emmett then went to further his education at college in San Angelo.  He left there to join the Army.  Emmett spent three years in Germany, where they were being held to be able to go to Vietnam if needed.  When he got home in 1962, he married Alice Dean (Boatman) Autrey on July 24, 1964. They shared 59 years together. Three sons were born to them; James in 1966, David in 1968, and Mark in 1970.

Emmett loved education, he used his VA benefits and enrolled at the University of Texas in Arlington, TX, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He then moved his family to Wichita Falls, Texas. Emmett went on to further his education at Midwestern State University, where he earned a Masters of Arts degree in July 1989. 

Emmett loved to hike in the woods. In 1990 while in California, he started to hike the Angeles Mountain range.  Then he became interested in the Pacific Crest Trail, which consists of 2,600 miles, which runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada.  Emmett completed 1,500 miles of it – or near there.  Many times he had friends who would join him and sometimes one of his sons would go. But most usually he would hike alone.  He truly loved the hike. In 2008, he had hurt his back and decided he had better not go hiking any more alone. 

Emmett surrendered to gospel ministry in 1975. He pastored at The First Missionary Baptist in Cleburne, TX, then at Missionary Baptist in Paducah, TX, and then on to Missionary Baptist in Healdton, OK. Emmett loved the Bible.  He could talk all day on any given subject in the Bible. 

After his time in ministry he started to work in Municipal Water Works.  He started at the River Road Water Plant in Amarillo, Texas in 1969 as a chemist in the lab. In 1971, Emmett moved his family to Ft Worth, Texas for a short time. The family would spend time in Sweetwater, TX; Wichita Falls, TX and Montrose, California; where he served as the Water Superintendent in each city. Emmett then moved his family back to Wichita Falls, TX for a brief period. In 1995, the family moved to Amarillo, TX where he went to work for the City of Amarillo at the Water Plant as the Water Superintendent. He worked his way up to Director of Utilities until he retired in 2009.

Emmett always loved learning and teaching. He tutored many of his employees at the water plant here in Amarillo to get their Double A license - A in water – A in waste water. It gave them an advantage to grow in their chosen career.  He was the President of the TWUA (Texas Water Utilities Association) for a year. Emmett would go to Corpus Christi to teach classes to help folks further their careers. That was for all over the state.  He usually taught Math, in which he wrote the book for them to teach from – it’s still being used today. Emmett loved this aspect of his job, because he loved to teach. 

He loved to do woodworking.  Emmett made all three of our granddaughters a beautiful hope chest for their birthdays.  They still treasure them today and will forever.

He loved everything analytical or history.  The family has a saying, “if you want to know anything, ask Emmett, he knows everything.” Usually that remark was true. Emmett loved discussing any subject with accuracy. He loved learning, be it Biblical or secular. Emmett was dearly loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Emmett is preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Susie Autrey; and his brother, William Autrey

He is survived by his wife, Dean Autrey, of the home; his oldest son, James from Abilene; his middle son David, from Amarillo; and his youngest son, Mark and wife Kathryn from Amarillo; his three granddaughters Staci Rodriquez and her husband Steven and their children from Abilene; Rachel Garris and her husband Nathan and their children from Amarillo; and Taylor Autrey and her fiance Jantzen Finney from Amarillo; and Logan Autrey that lives in our home in Amarillo; his two brothers, James Earl Autrey and his wife Neva from Hico, Texas and their family; Ronney Autrey and his wife Lindabeth from Snyder TX and their children; his sisters, Golda Evers and her husband Ed from Merkel, TX and their children; Linda Sue Martin and her husband Bill from Granbury TX. Survivors also include ahost of other family members and dear friends.

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