Emily Pederson Bryant

Mrs. Emily Marie Pederson Bryant was born June 27, 1932 and went to be with the Lord on October 20, 2016 afer a hard fought battle with cancer. She will be truly missed by her family and friends.

She was fluent in Chinese, which she learned while being a POW in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. The things that brought her much joy were being a waitress and developing friendships with the many unique customers she met. She also worked as a librarian at Parkland High School in El Paso, Texas, which motivated her to earn an Associates degree in Literature from El Paso Community College, while working two jobs. She spent her last 33 years in retirement quilting, reading, writing, doing puzzles and spending with her husband.

She is survived by her husband, Jim "Papa" Bryant, , son Adam and wife, Tammy Whitfield, daughter Mona and husband, Fred Breitbarth, step-daughter Sharyn Ficyk and husband Chip, step-daughter Traci Clemente and husband Sam, sister Mary Farrow, 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her son, Jesse Sumrall, brother Walter Pederson and mother and father.