Emma Roney

A memorial graveside service will be held for Emma Ilene Uhl Roney, 87, of Chico, on Friday, April 20, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Pine Creek Cemetery. Our loving, devoted, wife, mother and "Nan" passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, April 13, 2012. Emma was born August 17, 1924 to Roy and Irene Uhl as a twin to Emily (who predeceased her). Descended from Butte County pioneer families, Emma was proud of her heritage. She was raised on an almond ranch on Kennedy Ave. and attended Bidwell Grammar School, Chico High School, graduating from Chico State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a secondary teaching credential. When she inherited land on Kennedy and Muir Avenues, she continued to farm the land, raising kiwis, almonds and walnuts under the name Uhl-Rood Orchards. On Dec. 21, 1945, Emma married George U. Roney in Chico, CA. As a devoted wife, she always assisted George in their family farming and ranching near Nord. She enjoyed spending summers at their cabin in Butte Meadows and playing cards with George, aka "Pop". She was accomplished in the home arts, which she over the years taught to many as a home economics teacher. Her teaching career started at the La Grande High School. She also taught at Hamilton City, Chico and Pleasant Valley High Schools. Emma was a counselor at Pleasant Valley High and retired from Bidwell Junior High School. A superior seamstress, she sewed many garments for her grandchildren and children of friends. She also knit or crocheted baby blankets for her great-grandchildren and others. Emma was a member of Eastern Star, Delta Kappa Gamma, California Retired Teachers Assn., Assn. of Northern Calif. Record and Research, and Butte Meadows-Johnsville Community Assn. She was named to the Glenn County Educators Hall of Fame, co-authored "A Small Corner of the West" (a book about the history of Butte Meadows-Johnsville area). She also co-authored with her husband, a joint autobiography, "Treasured Memories and a Little B.S." Always the loving, caring matriarch, she kept track of the activities of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren via phone, e-mail and Facebook, ending her communications with her signature XOXO's (which was also the trademark she used for the Cabbage Patch dresses she made). With her well honed organizational skills, she maintained a calendar and datebook, yearly noting and updating all family birthdays, anniversaries, addresses and phone numbers. Maintaining an interest in family history (writing her autobiography), she continually upgraded videos (from black and white 8mm to digital videos) as technology progressed. Her love of, and for, family was unequalled. She was truly the "touchstone" for all the family. Her survivors include her husband, George of Chico; daughter, Peggy (Tom) Arms of Paradise; sons, Roy (Donna) Roney and John (Sue) Roney, both of Chico; grandchildren, Adam (Julia) Arms of Portland, OR, Lani (Briny) Woods of Ladera Ranch, Carrie (Ryan) Vanella of Chico, Megan (Luke) Barnes of Arroyo Grande, Jenny (Dave) Fipp of Weston, FL, Sonnet (Chris) O'Kane of San Diego; great-grandchildren, Alexis and Dean Woods, Amelia and Gabriel Arms, Carson and Ryley Vanella, Ashlee, Lilly and Tyler Fipp. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Nord Country School, of which she was a founder. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brusie Funeral Home.