Emily Surles' Obituary
Emily Felice Hereford Surles passed away in her home at Legacy at Crystal Falls in Leander, Texas on September 4, 2018. Emily was born December 28, 1919, in Dallas, Texas at the home of her parents, Felix and Catherine Hooe Hereford, descendants of pioneer Dallas families.Emily attended North Dallas High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Assistant Editor of the “Viking” Yearbook and from where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1936.Emily entered Southern Methodist University in the fall of 1936 and registered as a candidate for Bachelor of Arts with an Art Major. After the death of her father in 1941, Emily decided to pursue a career as a librarian. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Library Science from Louisiana State University in 1941. She married Dallas architect Russell Surles, Jr. on September 20, 1941.For the next 49 years, Emily raised three boys, earned her teaching certificate at the University of North Texas and worked as a librarian at Lake Highlands Junior High in the Richardson Independent School District.Emily was a talented award-winner artist. As a child, she studied under contemporaries of artist Frank Reaugh at his studio in Oak Cliff. After her retirement from RISD in 1984, pictures taken on family trips served as models for her paintings. After Russell’s death in 1989, Emily studied with Dallas artist Leo Smith, attending his workshops in Santa Fe and traveling to Paris for sightseeing and sketching. For the next 20 years, Emily produced a wonderful collection of paintings that now grace the walls of her friends, children, and grandchildren.Emily resided at White Rock Court in Lake Highlands for many years until failing health required a move to Leander for closer attention from the family. Emily was preceded in death by her husband and parents. She is survived by her three sons, Bill and Jenny of Providence Village, Texas, David and Marsha of Round Rock, Texas and Rick and CJ of Houston, Texas; six grandchildren: Randy and Blanca Surles of Vicenza, Italy, Ryan and Claire of Westminster, Maryland, Jeff and Barbara Surles of Austin, Texas, Kelly Surles of Cedar Park, Texas, Jacob Surles of Austin, Texas and Daniel Surles of Columbia, Missouri; and eight great-grandchildren: Reese Surles of Fort Worth, Texas, Adriel Surles of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Kerrigan Surles of Westminster, Maryland, Mac Surles of Austin,Texas , Alexandria Lyttle of Jonestown,Texas, Donovan and Liam Surles of Austin, Texas and Ruby Surles of Columbia, Missouri.Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 28, 2018, at 10:00 AM at Restland Wildwood Chapel.Funeral arrangements for Ms. Emily Surles have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
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