Lorain, OH – Emery Blaine Workman 79, of Procious, WV passed away Thursday January 30, 2014, in Lorain with his family by his side.
Emery was born January 11, 1935 in Hookersville, WV.
Emery retired from the Harshaw Chemical Company/BASF in 1995 after 41 years of service and he was a member of Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church until his retirement. Emery was an avid hunter, bluegrass music fan, jokester and story teller. On October 4, 1986, Emery began making his well-known copper kettle “Grandpa Workman’s Apple Butter” at the home of Kay Canfield using his mother’s recipe. Over the next 27 years, Emery made over 985 gallons of apple butter. Emery passed the copper kettle to his granddaughter on November 17, 2013 after he completed his 65th kettle. Emery donated over 17 gallons of blood over a 40 year period and was enthused that his grandchildren began donating blood while in high school. Emery hated needles, but yet he donated a pint of blood nearly every 56 days for years and he would encourage you to donate blood to the Red Cross or Life Share so that you could make a difference in your own community.
Emery was a United States Army veteran and was extremely proud of his children’s and his granddaughter’s combined total of 75 years of military service and he was also proud of his nieces and nephews military service. Survivors include daughter Kimberly (John ) Miller of Lorain, sons Timothy (Jackie) of Elyria, Alton Terry of Norfolk, VA, Thomas (Andrea) of Virginia Beach, VA, Tony (Amy) of Kingston, TN, Toby (Christine) of Elyria , James and Karen Baker of Lagrange, KY, sisters Hettie Pearl of Navarre, Dona Fields of Canal Fulton, Arlene Martin of Canal Fulton, Mattie Rudersmith of Lawrence, brothers Doyal “Jake” (Pearl) of LaGrange, Earl (Marcella) of New London, 15 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Emery was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years Wilma Jean (nee Nichols), parents Emery and Cora (nee Samples), brother Euhl, and nieces Theresa (nee Workman) Miller, Alexandria (Allie) Moore.
Family received friends from 1 pm until time of service at 3 pm Sunday February 2, 2014 at the Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Service (at St. Rt. 57), Elyria, where full military honors were provided by VFW post 1079. Rev. Tim Holt officiated. A memorial service was conducted February 4, 2014 at the Fola Missionary Baptist Church starting at 10:00 am; burial followed at 2 pm in Nichols Family Cemetery, Clay, West Virginia. Family suggests those who wish may make donations to The American Red Cross, 3747 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Online condolences may be expressed at www.laubenthalmercado.com.