Emma J. Vida's Obituary
Emma Jean Stoughton Vida was born on September 6, 1921 in Columbus, Kansas. She was the oldest daughter of Anna Faye and William Henry Stoughton who had seven children. When Emma Jean was sixteen, she and her whole family moved to Tucson for her father’s health. She met her husband, Otto, at Vida’s Court where the family stayed on the first day they were in Tucson. Otto and Emma Jean were married on April 5, 1941 before World War II broke out. They had four children: Nancy Sue Gilbertson who lives in Newport Beach with her husband Lance; Patty Jean Hahn who lives part-time in Tucson and Ohio; Ron Vida who lives in Wellington, NV with his wife Teresa; and Debbie Kay Uritson who lives in Johnson City, TN with her husband Ed. She has eight grandchildren: Tami, Brian, Scott, Eric, Janelle, Athena, Annie and Justin. All are surviving except Justin. There are thirteen great grandchildren. She is survived by one sister, Marjorie Faye Hollis and one brother Jack Lee Stoughton both of Tucson. Emma Jean loved working in her garden where she planted jonquils and irises. She played the cello and organ and liked good music. Otto and Emma Jean enjoyed some traveling together in the U.S. after they retired. She was an avid reader and read to her children and her grandchildren. Emma Jean loved her childhood life on the farm in Kansas. She talked about it a lot in her final years. She particularly loved talking about milking a cow called Pumpkin with her surviving sister, Marjorie. She was a loving sister, mother and grandmother and will be missed greatly by her family. She was a role model for being a mother. Emma Jean fought the good fight and finished the race. We look forward to seeing her in heaven. Services will be held 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 28, 2015 at EVERGREEN MORTUARY CHAPEL, N. Oracle Rd. & W. Miracle Mile.
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