Emma Laura Ellis Arhelger, 100, of Kerrville, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, surrounded by family and friends at her home. Services were held Friday, March 20, at 2 p.m. at Grimes Funeral Chapel in Kerrville. Burial followed at Garden of Memories cemetery.

Emma was born July 19, 1908 at Sloan Community near San Saba, Texas to J.R. Ellis and Mattie Sloan Ellis. The daughter of Texas pioneers, she grew up and spent her life in ranching. She was a distant great-niece of Sam Houston and a descendent of the Sloan, Henderson and Houston families who came together to Texas from Tennessee.

Emma married John W. Arhelger on Aug. 4, 1928 in San Saba. The couple had two sons, Robert and Raymond, both of whom loved to hear her stories of growing up with six brothers - James, Joe, Wade, Ward, Raymond and Robert - on their Texas ranch. She was also well known for her love of horseback riding, ceramic making, award-winning gardening, hunting and her fishing prowess.

After retiring from the ranching business, Emma and John moved to Lake Buchanan, Texas, and later to Kerrville in 1990.

Emma was preceded in death by her husband, all of her brothers, and her son, Raymond.

Survivors include son and daughter-in-law Robert and Dorothy Arhelger of Kerrville; daughter-in-law Betty Batcher Arhelger of Dallas; two granddaughters and their husbands, Marsha and DavidHart of Granbury, Texas; and Ingrid and Stuart Cunyus of Kerrville; one grandson and his wife, Raymond Clayton and Joni Arhelger of Dallas; five great-grandsons, Chad Hart, Brett Hart and wife Heather, Tate Arhelger, Mason Arhelger and Zach Cunyus; and a great-great granddaughter, Emma Leigh Hart.

Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.

The family invites you to send condolences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the "Send Condolences" link.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville.