Emma Clara Tenorio

Emma Tenorio

Emma Clara Duffey was born in Marion, Davies County, Missouri on September 9, 1928, to Olive nee Easter and Charles Herbert Duffey. Emma's father died on March 28, 1928, five months before Emma was born. Emma was named after of both her grandmothers.

Emma spent her first eight years on a farm in Missouri, learning to work hard and appreciate the things she had. Then, her mother, Olive, who was a widowed school teacher, moved Emma, who was the baby of the family, and her sister, Mae and three brothers, Charles, Tom and Jim to Denver, Colorado in search of work. They lived in the housing projects on Lipan Street. Emma went to Baker Junior High School, where she met her future husband, Elmer Tenorio. She also attended West High School.

Emma worked at the munitions plant at the Federal Center during World War II. She also worked at the Denver Public Library, was a telephone operator, a waitress and worked at Gates Rubber Company.

When Elmer returned from his second tour of duty with the Merchant Marines and then the Army Air Corps, theywere married. Emma married Elmer Paul Tenorio, Jr. in 1949 at St. Cajetan's Catholic Church. They had three children, Kathy, Richard and Jim. Emma stayed at home to raise the children. Then, went back to work at Gates where she retired after 30+ years. For many of those years Emma worked alongside her mother and brother, Jim, who both also retired from Gates.

Emma had a love for music and especially for Vince Gill's country tunes. She attended many of Vince Gill's concerts and was fortunate enough to meet him in person twice. Several of her family members accompanied Emma to her favorite concerts. Kathy and Emma's niece, Donna made sure Emma was able to see Vinnie in concert and meet him one last time just a year ago, when her health had really begun to fail. Her last few hours on January 7, 2017 were fulfilled listening to some of her favorite Vince Gill songs while surrounded by her loving
children and of course the family dog, Jackie, by her side.

Emma suffered many health problems, including breast cancer, twice. She fought as hard as she could and never complained.

Emma is survived by her children, Kathy, Richard (Sharon), Jim (Sally), her grandchildren, Chris, Phillip, Devon (Jami),Tiffany, Anthony and Jeremy. Also, her three great grand children Jaymie Maleigha, K'Leigh and Caiden