Judson (Jud) Emrick

Judson Harry, the seventh child of Alva and Ina Williamson Emrick was born on January 19, 1932 at his dad’s homestead, near Pritchett, Colorado. He departed this life on December 6, 2009. Judson joined a household with five older brothers and one sister. It seems Jud developed his love of ranching early in life. Alva Emrick raised registered milking shorthorn cattle, and each one of the seven children owned a registered cow. The children were all in 4-H, participating in achievement day and the Baca County Fair, with their animals. Later he purchased the family farm, which included the land homesteaded by his dad, his uncle and his grandmother. Alva and Ina Emrick always took the children to Sunday School and church. They attended the Church of God at Pritchett where the entire family was quite active. Judson attended eleven years of school at Pritchett. When he started first grade, he expected Ethel Stuart to be his teacher. After all she had taught his sister and brothers. He was so disappointed when he got to school and learned that Mrs. Stuart was not going to be his teacher that he almost became a first grade dropout. Jud completed the 12th grade at Fallon, Nevada, while staying with his brother Marion, graduating with the class of 1949. After graduation he worked on the Stark Ranch at Fallon for 18 months. It was while working for the Stark’s that the boss’s wife asked Jud what his middle initial H. stood for. Jud told her the H. was for “heaven or hell” whatever was appropriate at the time. Later he went to work at Standard Stag Mining Company as plant operator at Gabbs, Nevada. In 1951, Jud entered the Air Force, making the sixth one of the family to serve in the Armed Forces. He and Jack Nutt left Springfield by bus for Denver and flew to Oakland, California, arriving at Parks Air Force Base on October 4, to begin basic training. After basic training, Jud went to Scott Field at Bellville Illinois, entering Radio Maintenance School. Upon completion, he was sent to Elmendorf Air Force Base at Anchorage, Alaska for 2 years. When his tour of duty ended at Elmendorf, he left Anchorage driving down the Alcan by himself, came home and then went back to Scott Field, to finish his service career. In June 1956, while home on leave he was introduced to a young lady by the name of Joy Neal. Almost a year later, on May 29, 1957, they were married at Springfield and eventually divorced. Jud and Joy had three adopted children, Darin Scott, Valerie, and Billie Jo. After working at several jobs, Jud started working for the Post Office at Springfield in December 1962, as a letter carrier and continued to work there until he retired in 1989. Jud always talked about going back to Alaska for a visit. That dream came true in August of 2004 when he accompanied his nephews, Allan & Steven Emrick, and his great-nephew, Paul Emrick, to Alaska. Jud enjoyed attending the graduations of his many great nieces and nephews and was always proud of their accomplishments. He is survived by brothers Ivan (Esther) Emrick and George (Rosa Lee) Emrick, sister-in-law, Bernice Emrick, cousin, Eli (Shirley) Atchison, and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Alva & Ina Emrick and brothers, Marion Emrick, Eli Emrick, Elmer Emrick, sister, Susie Brock, and nephew, Allan Emrick.