Lyle "Shorty" Emery

Lyle Dean “Shorty” Emery passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, Kansas at the age of 85. He was born on February 20, 1933 in Lebanon, Kansas to the late Frank and Levona (Manchester) Emery. He grew up in the Smith County, Kansas area and graduated from Harlan High School with the Class of 1951. In 1953 he joined the United States Army and faithfully served his country during the Korean Conflict until his honorable discharge in 1955. On March 28, 1957 he was united in marriage to Mary Dinkel in Garden City, Kansas. Shorty began working for Inland Construction Company building roads and bridges. Eventually that work would bring him to the Rooks County, Kansas area when Highway 24 was being built. He and Mary liked Stockton so much that he began working with Ivan at the Standard Station and in 1977 purchased the station renaming it the “Shorty’s Standard” we all have come to know and love. Along with operating the station, he always enjoyed turning wrenches and fixing people’s cars, operating the wrecker, and often used his equipment to trim trees on the weekends. He was a member of the VFW and was a huge help when he used the wrecker to set all of the flag poles that are still used on Memorial Day and other occasions. Shorty is survived by his wife Mary Emery of their home in Stockton; sons Walt Dinkel of Oakley, and Jeff Emery and wife Jill of Stockton; daughters Vicky Peterson and husband David of Stockton, Connie Yakish and husband Joe of Hill City, and Kim Arnold of Alton; brother Howard Emery and wife Rita of Medicine Lodge; sisters Alice French of Osborne, Phyllis Miller of Grand Island, NE, and Betty Befort and husband Joe of Lebanon; seventeen grandchildren; thirty-nine great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Levona Emery, son-in-law Steve Arnold, and granddaughter Angel Yakish. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow in the St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm on Monday at the funeral home in Stockton with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00pm. Memorials are suggested to the Shorty Emery Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N 1st Street, Stockton, KS 67669. Online condolences may be left at www.plumeroverlease.com Known for being a professional at nap taking, Shorty truly taught us by daily example how to work hard and have fun doing it. Hard work was not just a way of life for him but it was what he truly loved to do. Although we miss him greatly, we rejoice that he now rests from his labors, waiting to be reunited with us on the other side, taking a most peaceful nap until we get there.