Mary Jeanette Wallace Emfinger's Obituary
Mary Jeanette Wallace Emfinger, lovingly known as Jeanette, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026, in Dallas, Texas, surrounded by family. She was 86 years old.
Jeanette was born on September 15, 1939, in Columbia, Louisiana, to Clemon and Alice Laverne Wallace. She grew up on Turkey Creek Lake alongside her sisters, forming lifelong bonds and cherished memories that stayed close to her heart.
She met the love of her life, Bobby Emfinger, at a sock hop in Winnsboro, Louisiana. They jitterbugged that night, and the rest was history. Jeanette and Bobby shared 68 years of marriage filled with love, faith, and devotion.
Jeanette had a servant’s heart, something evident throughout her life and career. She worked many years in retail at Hazel’s and later managed Maidie’s Dress Shop, where she delighted in helping customers find the perfect outfit or gift—always with a warm smile. Her final working years were spent at the Winnsboro State Bank, Gilbert branch, where she was known for never meeting a stranger and for genuinely caring about everyone she helped.
Even in retirement, Jeanette never stopped serving others. She proudly served on the Oakley Cemetery Board, helping successfully certify the cemetery with the State of Louisiana. She was also well known for cooking meals, lending a helping hand, and caring for anyone in need.
Jeanette walked her journey through breast cancer beginning in July 2024 with remarkable grace, strength, and faith, supported by her loving family and friends. She passed peacefully, confident in her faith and knowing where she was going.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, Bobby Emfinger of Gilbert, Louisiana; three children: Robert Wesley Emfinger and wife Rita of Kemp, Texas; William Randall Emfinger of Los Angeles, California; and Angie Emfinger Buckmeier and husband Martin of Richardson, Texas; her sister, Dorothy Storm; four grandsons: Nicholas Emfinger (Jessica), Ryan Emfinger (Brianna), Andrew Buckmeier (Mary), and Adam Buckmeier; nine great-grandsons of whom she was immensely proud; and a host of nieces and nephews she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clemon and Alice Laverne Wallace, and her sisters, Marilyn Fay Seymour and Patricia Ruth Barnes.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 24, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m., at Calvary Baptist Church in Gilbert, Louisiana.
Jeanette will be remembered for her kindness, her joyful spirit, her unwavering faith, and the love she poured into everyone blessed to know her.
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