Gerald Emenhiser, 80, of Winnie, died Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas in Beaumont.

Gerald was a native of Port Arthur and a lifelong resident of Winnie. He was responsible for the family rice farm before he graduated high school and continued farm operations until he retired in1982, when he started working in the oil field as a welder. Gerald was a volunteer fireman for thirty-five years with the Winnie-Stowell Volunteer Fire Department serving in several positions, including Fire Chief and Fire Marshall.  He was one of several individuals responsible for starting the ambulance service for the volunteer fire department. Gerald also was a member of the Winnie-Stowell lions Club, special deputy for the sheriffs department of Chambers County and a pilot.

He is survived by his loving wife of forty-one years, Betty Emenhiser; sons, Jerry Emenhiser and Glenn Emenhiser; daughter, Linda Crowton and her husband Kenneth; brother, Frank Emenhiser; sisters, Peggy Emenhiser and Bernice Farrow and her husband Russell all of Winnie; granddaughter Samantha Sonnier; and great-grandchildren, James Pugh and William Pugh; and numerous relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 14, 2011, at First Baptist Church, 120 E. Pear St. in Winnie with burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will be 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 13, 2011, at Broussard’s, 134 W. Buccaneer Dr. in Winnie.