Emmy
Emmy Regina "nee Meister" Bagwell
d. August 27, 2016
Emmy Regina Bagwell (nee Meister)
June 6, 1922 - August 27, 2016
Emmy passed away at 2:56 p.m. on August 27, 2016 in the arms of her daughter and the comfort of her grandson, Damon, by her side. Emmy is survived by her sisters, Lydia of Germany and Martha of FL; three children, Leander Woodruff, Henry Woodruff (Claudia) and Una Morgan (Colin); four grandchildren, Jonathan Woodruff of NC, Nathan Woodruff of CA, Leander Morgan and Damon Morgan of NM; and twelve great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Mason, Chandler, Alyssa, and Christina Woodruff of NC; and, Elijah, Tana, Adoniah, Jahsawa, Nya, Jamal, and Hailu Morgan of NM. And, of course, meine kliene hund, Roxy. She was preceded in death by both husbands, Russell E. Woodruff and Douglas C. Bagwell; her parents, Josef and Agnes Meister; brothers, Ernst, Willie, Otto; and sisters, Elizbeth and Augusta. And, most recently, her grandchild, Marcus Woodruff of NC.
Emmy lived a life filled with adventure, hardship, happiness and love. Born in Obernau, Germany in 1922 she shared her childhood with her brothers and sisters on the farm and often talked of the love her parents showed to each of them. While times were often hard and food sometimes scarce she always took pride in saying that it was the discipline, love and comfort of her parents that gave each of them the best of what a day's hard work could provide. Emmy grew up quickly in a country engaged in a world war and was recruited into the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) at the age of 17. She witnessed the horrors of war including the loss of family and friends along with the tragic pains and suffering that only war can bring. Always finding the best in everyone and everything that life brings, she also told of many stories of her military life as a telephone operator stationed in Paris - she made the best of a bad situation, after all, they were in Paris! When the war ended she, along with her comrades, were told to walk home - Emmy managed the walk, horse cart and train from Paris to home, Obernau.
After the war her married life took her to Japan, back home to Germany, Texas, Arkansas, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and eventually, New Mexico. Her life as a wife and mother brought with it all the challenges, difficulties and rewards that come with the titles of spouse and parent and she lived these titles with the same principles of dedication and love her parents passed on to her in her youth. She earned her love and admiration of all who came in contact with her and most profoundly her children.
Some of you will remember Emmy as that little German girl at Sam's Gourmet where she worked in excess of 20 years. Many of you will remember her as the belle of the ball - her love of dancing was second to her love for her family. Retirement found her joining every dance club, taking every class, entering competitions and performing exhibitions while making new friends along her way. She relished the joys of dance and the company of people that quickly learned to love her and the spirit of life that she gave so freely.
When we remember Emmy we will think first and foremost of her character. You see, she was a simple person guided by her faith in God and the belief that there is goodness in everyone. She never failed to offer hope to those in pain, to show love to all she knew, to give help to those in need and, most of all, always willing to forgive. So we take comfort in knowing that, while we mourn her departure from this life, we can be at peace, trusting that she is in the company of our Father in heaven, her family that went before her and once again smiling as she glides along heaven's golden streets to the sounds of a waltz composed for her by God.
We love you, our mother, our Oma, our friend. Words can't describe how much you were loved, how much you are missed.
June 6, 1922 - August 27, 2016
Emmy passed away at 2:56 p.m. on August 27, 2016 in the arms of her daughter and the comfort of her grandson, Damon, by her side. Emmy is survived by her sisters, Lydia of Germany and Martha of FL; three children, Leander Woodruff, Henry Woodruff (Claudia) and Una Morgan (Colin); four grandchildren, Jonathan Woodruff of NC, Nathan Woodruff of CA, Leander Morgan and Damon Morgan of NM; and twelve great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Mason, Chandler, Alyssa, and Christina Woodruff of NC; and, Elijah, Tana, Adoniah, Jahsawa, Nya, Jamal, and Hailu Morgan of NM. And, of course, meine kliene hund, Roxy. She was preceded in death by both husbands, Russell E. Woodruff and Douglas C. Bagwell; her parents, Josef and Agnes Meister; brothers, Ernst, Willie, Otto; and sisters, Elizbeth and Augusta. And, most recently, her grandchild, Marcus Woodruff of NC.
Emmy lived a life filled with adventure, hardship, happiness and love. Born in Obernau, Germany in 1922 she shared her childhood with her brothers and sisters on the farm and often talked of the love her parents showed to each of them. While times were often hard and food sometimes scarce she always took pride in saying that it was the discipline, love and comfort of her parents that gave each of them the best of what a day's hard work could provide. Emmy grew up quickly in a country engaged in a world war and was recruited into the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) at the age of 17. She witnessed the horrors of war including the loss of family and friends along with the tragic pains and suffering that only war can bring. Always finding the best in everyone and everything that life brings, she also told of many stories of her military life as a telephone operator stationed in Paris - she made the best of a bad situation, after all, they were in Paris! When the war ended she, along with her comrades, were told to walk home - Emmy managed the walk, horse cart and train from Paris to home, Obernau.
After the war her married life took her to Japan, back home to Germany, Texas, Arkansas, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and eventually, New Mexico. Her life as a wife and mother brought with it all the challenges, difficulties and rewards that come with the titles of spouse and parent and she lived these titles with the same principles of dedication and love her parents passed on to her in her youth. She earned her love and admiration of all who came in contact with her and most profoundly her children.
Some of you will remember Emmy as that little German girl at Sam's Gourmet where she worked in excess of 20 years. Many of you will remember her as the belle of the ball - her love of dancing was second to her love for her family. Retirement found her joining every dance club, taking every class, entering competitions and performing exhibitions while making new friends along her way. She relished the joys of dance and the company of people that quickly learned to love her and the spirit of life that she gave so freely.
When we remember Emmy we will think first and foremost of her character. You see, she was a simple person guided by her faith in God and the belief that there is goodness in everyone. She never failed to offer hope to those in pain, to show love to all she knew, to give help to those in need and, most of all, always willing to forgive. So we take comfort in knowing that, while we mourn her departure from this life, we can be at peace, trusting that she is in the company of our Father in heaven, her family that went before her and once again smiling as she glides along heaven's golden streets to the sounds of a waltz composed for her by God.
We love you, our mother, our Oma, our friend. Words can't describe how much you were loved, how much you are missed.
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