Sheila Ann Emick

Sheila Ann (Mason) Emick was born on January 29, 1949 in Springfield, Colorado, the 2 ^nd of seven children of Ora Columbus and Florence Verdene (Combs) Mason. She passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior on June 20, 2021 at UC Health Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs after a brief illness; she was 72 ½ years old.

Sheila had a special relationship with her brother, Burrell, who was about 18 months older than Sheila. One of the first things that the two of them remember doing together was getting their tonsils out at the same time. They were put on the same gurney—Sheila on one end and Burrell on the other.

Another vivid memory was not so pleasant. Their family lived on a farm west of Pritchett and, like most people at the time, they had an outhouse. It’s not actually known whose idea it was, but for some reason it was decided to drop some puppies down that outhouse. Well, Dad found out and they had to rescue the puppies. Burrell had to go down on a rope and get them and hand them to Sheila who had to wash them. Needless to say, that never happened again.

Sheila’s Mom, Florence told the story of driving down the street in Pritchett, turning a corner and the back door coming open and Sheila rolling out. There were no such things as seat belts back then. Sheila and her siblings used to tease their Mom about trying to get rid of Sheila. Mom, of course was horrified but, took the teasing in stride.

Sheila attended school at Edler, CO and Pritchett, CO. She attended school in Springfield, CO, from 3 ^rd grade until her graduation from high school with the Class of 1967.

Her parents taught her about Jesus and the entire family attended church at the Pritchett Church of God until 1957 when they moved and started attending the Springfield Church of God. Sheila remembered the family living across the street and watching as the present Church of God building was being built.

She had many great memories, growing up, that revolved around her church family and church activities. Since almost everyone went to Sunday morning services and then were back for Sunday evening services, it was often a chance for Sheila to have a friend go home with her, or for her to go home with a friend, for the afternoon. The friend was usually Ilene Chatham, Becky Maltbie or Carol Hollenback.

The Maltbie kids and the Mason kids rode the same school bus for a few years. Ervin Maltbie says Sheila was a special friend of his since way back then. His nickname for her was SAM, which were her initials. Even though Sheila’s initials changed twice over the years, she was always ‘SAM” to him. His words were that “Sheila was a very special lady”.

Sheila gave her heart to the Lord at a young age. How she lived her life told of her love for Jesus. As the years went by she was a true prayer warrior. When she set to praying about something, and there was always a list, there was no doubt that her prayers would bring results from her Lord. Niece, Sarah Anderson, who lives in Australia, knew that her Aunt Sheila was praying up a good man for her. When Sheila passed, Sarah said “Who will be praying up a good man for me, now?”. We think it’s a done deal, as Aunt Sheila already had the order turned in. Who knows, maybe she’ll be able to get that order of a “good man” for Sarah, expedited.

Growing up in the church, the Mason family loved singing and would often sing specials. Sheila had a beautiful alto voice but her voice was naturally soft and due to her shyness and quiet nature she didn’t sing very loud. The story is that in order for Sheila to learn to sing louder, her Dad would have her stand in the closet with the door shut and practice. Dad would say ‘louder” each time she sang until she sang loud enough to be heard outside of the closet door. She sang louder when she needed to, but her softer alto voice was more like her gentle spirit.

Sheila and her friend, Ilene both took piano lessons. Ilene tells of her and Sheila playing a hymn together—one playing the right hand notes and the other one the left hand notes.  She said it was not only good practice but it was fun. Sheila and Ilene both became accomplished pianists and played in their respective churches over the years. It was especially sweet, the last few years, when the two longtime friends, both attending the Springfield Church of God again, took turns being the pianist.

On a trip with the church youth group to an International Youth Convention, the story is told that the group was in an elevator, when it suddenly stopped working. Apparently, when it stopped, Sheila grabbed the person in front of her for balance and in doing so, pulled down a man’s pants. Sheila always denied that this happened and would always blush when someone told the story. She never liked riding elevators after that and would always take the stairs, if she could.

Often some of the Springfield Church of God youth would go to the Pleasant Heights Church which is between Springfield and Lamar. There Sheila made more lifetime friends including Virginia and Sharon Rife, and Jesse, David and Etta Frank.

After getting her driver’s license, she often had to take her younger sisters places. This particular day, the car was parked under the carport that was supported by metal poles.  One of the sisters (who will remain anonymous) didn’t get their door closed before Sheila started backing out. As she backed out, the open door was caught by a metal pole and was bent back completely flat against the car. I don’t think Dad was very happy about that. It was funny much later.

Sheila learned to embroidery, did a beautiful job and loved doing it. She embroidered many pillow cases, tea towels, dresser scarves and other items for her own hope chest as well as to give as gifts.

In June of 1967, only a few weeks after Sheila graduated from high school, the Mason family adopted a new little sister, Marian Ruth, who was ‘cute as a bugs ear’. She was 13 months old. Since Mom and Dad both worked, Sheila and Teresa took care of Marian during the summer. Marian was Sheila’s responsibility again, when school started in the fall.

In the fall of 1968, Sheila became a student again by attending Lamar Community College studying the Clerk/Typist Program. She finished her studies and graduated in 1969.

She then applied and was hired by then County Clerk and Recorder, Margaret Reschke, to work in the County Clerk’s office.

Sheila loved to write letters and became an avid Pen Pal writer. This was back when there was only snail mail. She enjoyed sending and receiving letters. She began writing to a young man who was in the Air Force, Robert Ingle. After he came to meet her in person, the romance blossomed and on May 31, 1970, they were married in the Springfield Church of God. Sheila’s Dad made a deal with all five of his daughters—If they didn’t get married before their 21 ^st birthday, he would give them $500. Sheila was his only daughter, out of 5, that earned and received the $500.

Robert wanted to become a Barber, so the couple moved to Denver so he could attend Barber School. While living in Denver, Sheila worked at a Credit Union. She would tell the story of driving to work in the Denver traffic, seeing a tire rolling down the road past her, then it rolling on down the road in front of her. She thought it quite amusing until she realized that it was one of her tires.

It seems like there is a theme here with Sheila and cars. Hmmm…. She falls out of one car, she flattens a car door on a second car, she loses a tire off of a third car…….and still she became the Baca County Clerk and Recorder for 31 years and part of her duties was to conduct driving tests. Maybe her experiences helped qualify her in what not to do.

In 1971, upon successful completion of Robert’s barber training, the couple returned to Springfield. Robert began working on the Baca County Road and Bridge Department. In 1972, a work accident put him in the hospital with severe injuries. On August 24, 1972 the couple was blessed with a little red headed girl and they named her Becky Jo. On July 31, 1974 the couple was blessed again with a baby. This one was a little blond-headed boy. They named him Michael Eugene, and he completed their family.

Sheila went back to work at the Baca County Clerk’s Office, working for Jimmy Womack.  In July of 1979, due to health reasons, Jimmy Womack resigned as the Clerk and Recorder. Sheila was then appointed to finish out the remainder of Jimmy’s term. She ran for that position in the next election and held the office for 31 years. During some of those years, she teamed up again with her dear brother Burrell and they both ran for office—her for County Clerk and Burrell for County Treasurer. Their uncle Willard Goff also ran for Baca County Sheriff in some of those elections.

Sheila formed special friendships with some of her faithful employees—Dianne Baxter and Marilyn Lasley to name a just a couple. She loved her work, loved helping others, and she was very proud of the progress the department made during her tenure--most notably the conversion to computers. Through campaigning for office, and then serving the public in that office, Sheila came to know about everyone in the county.

Niece Amy Williams has special memories of summers when she got to go to the Church of God Camp Meeting in the mountains with her Grandpa and Grandma Mason and Aunt Sheila.

Sheila was a loving mother and her children grew into loving adults. In December of 1991, Robert and Sheila divorced. On Oct 2, 1994, Becky Jo and then husband, Jim McQuiston, blessed Sheila with her first grandchild—Dakota, a boy. On June 29, 1995, Sheila gained another daughter when Michael married Amber Dawn Bachman. Sheila loved Amber dearly, as her own daughter. Amber always treated Sheila with respect and loved her right back stating, “Sheila is so easy to love”. On Nov. 4, 1996, Mike and Amber blessed Sheila with another grandson—Devon. Sheila loved being a grandmother and she was very, very proud of her grandsons. Devon loved staying with Nana. One of his favorite memories is of him and his Nana riding their bikes to the train tracks nearby and having a picnic. On May 18, 2003 Becky Jo married Stephen Shepherd. From that day forward, Stephen and Dakota were father and son, and in the deal, Sheila gained another son.

In the fall of 1995, Sheila, her sister, Teresa, and their Mom, Florence, made a trip to Australia to visit sister Rochelle and her family. Rochelle remembers realizing that Sheila loved horses when she made friends with their horse, Honey. Sheila would often walk down to see, pet, and talk to Honey during their visit. After returning home, Sheila would often ask about Honey when talking to Rochelle. Sheila also loved when they went whale watching while in Australia, even though the ocean was really rough and most of the whale watchers were throwing up, all around her.

In November of 1995, Sheila married John Emick, who she felt was her soulmate. At one point Sheila and John lived south of Walsh, not far from her niece LeAnn Sharpe and her family. LeAnn shared a special memory of time she spent with Sheila: “Sheila wanted to start exercising with me to get stronger and healthier. We decided riding bikes of a morning or doing an exercise video would be a great plan of action. One catch, this was in the middle of winter! Bless her. Sheila was always up and ready to ride in terrible windy, cold, nasty weather that left me pooped. On off days, I remember laying on her living room floor doing ab workouts, giggling as we tried to force our not so strong cores to be like the gals on TV. I really enjoyed those mornings with Aunt Sheila and I now treasure them.”

In about 2006, Sheila became the volunteer coordinator in charge of the Care and Share Commodities Program in Baca County. At the time of her death, she had served in this capacity for 15 years—longer than any other volunteer coordinator in the state of Colorado. She made many treasured friends in this endeavor and always appreciated the tireless dedication of those who volunteered to help make the program a success.

Sheila’s career as the Baca County Clerk and Recorder ended with the 2010 election and she graciously entered into what was to be a semi-retirement.

In 2012 Sheila became a US Postal employee, working at various Baca County post offices. She enjoyed serving the public again, as her heart was in helping others. She worked for the Post Office for 5 years, retiring in 2017.

Her husband John passed on May 26, 2014. Sheila looked forward to the day she would see him again.

Sheila’s sister-in-law, (Evelyn) Colleen Mason, also passed in 2014.

Sheila and brother Burrell teamed up again and, with their Mom, Florence, enjoyed each other’s company while living in the Mason family home in Springfield. Sheila and Mom enjoyed fixing brother Burrell his “usual breakfast” almost every morning. Sheila enjoyed making her fudge for brother Burrell--which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Sadly, Sheila’s daughter Becky passed on May 31, 2016. Two weeks later on June 14, 2016, Sheila’s Mom, Florence also passed.

Sheila sold her home in Vilas and moved into her Mom’s house in Springfield. Sister Rochelle helped make Florence’s bedroom into Sheila’s own.

In 2019 Sheila adopted a little Yorkshire dog, named Zoey. She became a constant companion to Sheila. They adored each other. Sheila’s sister, Kathryn and her husband Vernon, stayed with Sheila for most of the past 10 months, while Sheila was recuperating from shoulder surgery and then while their house was being remodeled. They also came to love Zoey. Kathryn often teased Shelia that when her and Vernon moved back home, they would have to work out a custody agreement with Sheila for Zoey. Little did they know that Vernon and Kathryn would soon have permanent custody of Zoey.

On May 31, 2021 Sheila began to feel quite ill. For the next few days her health continued to decline and she was admitted to Southeast Colorado Hospital in Springfield. On Saturday June 5 ^th she was flown to UC Health Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs where she remained until Jesus took her hand and let her into heaven at 2:11 pm, Sunday, June 20, 2021, just as the sun peaked over the horizon in Australia.

Sheila was preceded in death by her parents Ora C. and Florence V. (Combs) Mason; a brother, Benny Ray Mason; her husband, John H. Emick; her daughter, Becky Jo Shepherd; and her sister-in-law, (Evelyn) Colleen Mason.

She is survived by her son Michael (Amber) Ingle of Springfield, CO; a son-in-law Stephen Shepherd of Great Falls, MT; grandsons Dakota McQuiston (Beth Holmes) of Social Circle, GA and Devon Ingle of Springfield, CO; one brother, Burrell Mason of Springfield, CO; 4 sisters: Teresa (Charles) Pattie of Rocky Ford, CO; Kathryn (Vernon) Close of Springfield, CO; Rochelle (Graeme) Anderson, of Maidenwell, Queensland, Australia; and Marian (Ruben) Martinez of Colorado Springs, CO. Also surviving are: an aunt, Mary Millican of Ft. Collins, CO; 3 uncles: Curtis Mason of Guymon, OK; Wesley (Colleen) Combs and Melvin (Carol) Combs both of Pueblo, CO; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

In memory of Sheila, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to: The Springfield Church of God, 900 Tipton St., Springfield, CO 81073; or Care and Share Food Bank, 2605 Preamble Point, Colorado Springs, 80915.