Robert Delafield Embrey's Obituary
Robert was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on February 19, 1923 at home to his parents Boyd C. Embrey and Alice Kate Vaughan Embrey now deceased. He leaves behind his wife of almost 70 years, Billie Jean Embrey; his two son Michael Embrey and his wife Cecelia and Gary Embrey; his daughter Shelia Barnes and her husband Marty; and his brother Vaughan Embrey and wife Dorothy (deceased), their daughter Susan Embrey Johnson and her husband Mike, and nephew Brent Segal; his granddaughter Holly Abney and husband Derrick; grandsons Matthew Cooksey and wife Jennifer, Rob Cooksey; his great grandchildren Bailey Link and Embrey Abney, Aiden Abney, and Logan, Dylan, Brook, Jacob and Kyle Cooksey.
In Shreveport as a boy he loved to fish and would ride from the east side of Shreveport on his bicycle to Cross Lake, borrow a boat, fish all day and then return home in the evening with fish hanging from the handlebars to the ground. His mother was amazed. During this time Uncle Raymond and Aunt Bess Bardwell played an affirmative role in his life. He attended Creswell Grammar School and later Byrd High School where he played football, ran track and other sports. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1941 after graduation with the onset of WWII and was on a Sub-Chaser in the Caribbean and later transferred to the Pacific into the US Navy in preparation for the invasion of Japan. He was in the Pacific when the war ended with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He returned home in 1945 via the west coast to Shreveport where he enrolled in the Trade School out on North Market and trained as a machinist. There he met H.L. Hall, a lifetime friend who also was in the metal machining trade. (His son, Rev. Ken Hall will preside over the services are Rader). Robert’s first employment was with L.G. Thomas on Claiborne Avenue where he completed his apprenticeship and became a Tool and Die Maker. He also met his wife, Billie Jean, during this time, who he called “the catch of his life!”
In 1956 he moved his family to Lufkin, Texas. The year after he relocated to Palestine, Texas where he ran a shop for Claiborne Tile Company until 1963 and returned to Shreveport that year and was re-employed by those who had purchased L.G. Thomas’ shop. Later, he was offered management of the new company. Remco Inc. which he pulled out of pending bankruptcy with the onset of the Vietnam War around 1965-1970. In 1971 he and his partners purchased the shop that he had run in Palestine and moved it to Longview, Texas to service Eastman Chemical Company, primarily the Polyethylene division, now operating under Westlake Chemical Company. The new subsidiary, named Remtex was manager by Mr. Glenn Hamilton, who now has his own facility, GME Inc. in Jacksonville, Texas. Remtex was incorporated on July 1, 1971 and in located at 23 FRJ Drive in the East Industrial District off Cotton Street of this city where it is still operating today. He assumed complete ownership of Remtex in 1977-1978 from the parent company and moved to Longview during this that time.
Since 1971, Remtex Inc. has employed, nurtured, and trained a number of skilled Machinist and accordingly populated other business and startups thus adding to the general welfare of the community with skilled, high paying jobs allowing them to raise their families in this community with long term employment.
Of special mention is his Shop Superintendent- Paul Kelly Barron, current employees Gary Allen, Ricky Linton, Raymond Winegerd, Richard Nix, Marty Barnes, Jarrett Drake and Samuel Adame. All of these are Honorary Pallbearers as well as former employees Jimmy D. Branch, Daniel Lee Skinner, Richard Primm and Larry Seeds.
Robert Embrey was also a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Shreveport and Palestine, Texas, and a member of First Baptist and Mobberly Baptist in Longview. He was also a Choir member at several of these churches and a practitioner of his faith in the Lord throughout his life, Amen!
He was publicized notably for his fishing talents in an article in Bass Master and the Shreveport Times due to his unique skills at catching large bass on long rods in Toledo Bend Reservoir. As an accomplished sailor he won the New Orleans Regatta in the Snipe class in 1952-53 held on Lake Pontchartrain. He also enjoyed elk hunting in the high country of Northern New Mexico while camping with his friends, Leon Phillips (deceased), John Martin (deceased), and Dr. Ed Mack.
During his professional machining career he produced parts for the stratospheric balloon scientific test in the late 1950s, Sandia Labortories for Atomic testing underground in New Mexico and parts for the Moon Landing of the NASA Space Program.
Robert went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 22, 2017 with many of his family around in a quiet and peaceful manner. The family would like to thank the many caregivers and Hospice personnel who were with us during this time. He will be missed and remembered for the difference he made in so many lives. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 26, at from 9-10 AM in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Service will be at 10 AM with Dr. Ken Hall officiating. Entombment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Mausoleum on Harrison Road.
Remtex will be closed the Wednesday, July 26, in tribute to his life.
A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.
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