Nolan Emert returned Home to the Lord peacefully in the early hours of February 2, 2023 while in his sleep. Mr. Emert was born to S.D. and Bessie Brown Emert on December 13, 1924 in Blessing, Texas.

At age three, the family moved to Madison County where he attended Elwood School through grade nine. At age sixteen, Mr. Emert then hitch-hiked to Colorado and Wyoming to serve in the Civilian Conservation Corps, doing his bit for New Deal.

In 1942, on his seventeenth birthday and with his country at war, he enlisted in the United States Navy. After Boot Camp and Gunnery School, both in Southern California (where he ate his first avocado!), Mr. Emert joined the fight in the Pacific Theater as a 20mm machine gunner aboard troop ships. During his thirty months at sea, he, his ship, and his crew directly aided in returning home to their families, many of the survivors of the Bataan Death March, as well as helping fend off fifteen straight days of air raids. He saw his heaviest action at the Battle of Layte Gulf, and would later even survive a Kamikaze attack that he helped foil, and for his trouble, acquired a scar on his arm from a Japanese round that grazed him during the attack!

Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy the previous month, Mr. Emert married Nora Lee Buhler on January 5, 1946. The two enjoyed sixty- seven years of marriage before Nora’s passing in 2013.

After the war, Mr. Emert cut his teeth in the oil business, first for Oil Field Service Co., out of Houston, where he worked for 14 years. He then joined Baker Oil Tools in the mid-1960’s, where he relocated to Tripoli, Libya, serving six years as Operations Manager, followed by several years in London managing operations in Africa, the Middle East, and Australia.

Never fearful of trying something new, and because of the easy access it afforded him to hunting and fishing, Mr. Emert purchased a twenty-five unit motel in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. But after four years, the motel was sold and he built a sporting goods and gun shop before selling it two years later, as well.

The oil industry needed him back, so he returned to work for Baker Oil Tools, relocating first to Dubai for three years as Ops Manager, then to Lagos, Nigeria as Manager.

In the late-1970’s, he retired from Baker and moved to Madisonville, Texas, where he worked an additional five years as a Petroleum Consultant.

But Mr. Emert’s hobby and joy was always gunsbuying, selling, trading, and repairing them- and he knew his hobby well!

His retirement years were spent sharing his love for firearms with anyone interested, and had even begun mentoring a young man these past few years, passing along his vast wisdom and experience to his worthy pupil. Mr. Emert also could often be found behind a raffle table, raffling one of his rifles in order to raise funds for his local VFW Post, of which he served as Commander from 1992-1994.

In addition, Mr. Emert shared his passion for firearms with his community by helping develop the Madison County Skeet and Trap Range, and was always available to assist or instruct novice and expert marksmen, alike.

Mr. Emert was a member of First Methodist Church of Madisonville, and faithfully served as a Trustee for several years.

Nolan and Nora together raised two daughters, Linda Kay Clarke and Beverly Gayle Myers, were the grandparents of three: Karen Anglin, Felecia Hill, and Justin Layne Emert, and seven great-grandchildren. Nolan Emert is survived by a large family, countless friends and loved-ones. He was the embodiment of “The Greatest Generation”, and he is missed and loved dearly.

A funeral service for Nolan Emert was held 10 A.M., Saturday, February 11, 2023 at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville, Texas. Interment followed at Joyze Cemetery, Madisonville, Texas.

Pallbearers: E.W.

Parten, Will Mooney, Scott Singletary, Mike Nunley, David Raentz, J.R. Smith In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church of Madisonville or the American Legion Post #84 in Madisonville, Texas.

Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas was entrusted with arrangements.