“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel”. Maya Angelou.

Losing a good friend or cherished co-worker is a difficult process to move though. Someone you see every day at work or weekly at the gun range or monthly at a book club or committee meeting can cause tremendous emotional pain when their absence registers.

It can have more impact than losing a family member as so many families are separated by miles or feuds and misunderstandings.

Too many blood line families are split so people make their own family with who they associate with and enjoy being with.

These relationships might even be bonded more tightly in rural settings where there are fewer people to know and associate together.

On Sunday, March 28, a wonderful person who gave considerably to Mineral County went home much too early and left many in anguish and despair.

Emily Ornelas was a tender soul with enough horsepower to tackle projects head-on, or easily and quietly slip into committees and make them more efficient.

“What I’ll cherish for my favorite Emily memory is her climbing onto the BIG teeter totter (part of the new playground equipment in 2016) with a partner and ‘going for a ride’”, smiles Liz Gupton.

The two of them were involved with many more volunteers for the fundraising of the Eva Horning Park project that remains a destination for kids and families.

When Sandy and I moved here to Superior, Emily and Ernie were the very first couple to invite us to

their home for dinner and made us feel part of the community," David Mirisch said. "She was a dear friend and will be missed greatly by the people here in Superior.”

A registered nurse, Emily worked at Mineral Community Hospital and then as a medication nurse and house parent at Mountain View Assisted Living next door.

Her volunteerism covered from being a West End Volunteer Firefighter, Superior Town Councilor to being the go-to-gal at St. Regis Community Bible Church.

“God brings Emily to my mind and I smile wanting to live my life learning to be more like her. When every I think of her, I always think of Jude 22: And some have compassion, making a difference”, said Barbara Gillott. One of the last challenges she poured herself into was the Superior Recycling Center as an organizer and then the manager.

It’s a success story in itself and friend and co-worker, Valerie Inouye, has this to say in remembrance: “Endearing, Memorable, Industrious, Loving and Yasashii (Japanese word meaning ‘gentle’ or ‘kind’). “I’ve known Emily for over 20 years. So many things to say. One was we could never find Russel St (in Missoula) and once we did, we always seemed to be on it. And that’s after we had been going to Missoula every week for a couple of years,” Sherrill Christensen said with a grin.

“Emily was a joy to work with. Her positive attitude, light, caring and compassion was, and will always be an inspiration to me,” said Brenda Schneider, Clerk, Town of Superior.

“Emily was a kind-hearted, dedicated, beautiful soul who loved the Lord and loved her town. She volunteered for a multitude of things around Superior and Mineral County and is dearly missed. Her devotion to the things she was passionate about was beyond measure. All of our prayers and blessings to her family and friends. Heaven gained an angel,” is how Rodney and Andy of the Town of Superior Public Works Department described her. They were very instrumental to Emily at the Superior Recycling Center.

Scott Burrows from St. Regis chimed in with “She was one of those people whom everyone found easy to like. Always a smile and warm greeting. The Lord’s love shined thru Emily.”

Peggy Temple in Superior smiles when she states, “I know we all miss her. She was such a part of the community! I miss seeing her watering the bridge flowers with her floppy hat! And her smiles and chocolate at recycling!". Quite possibly Emily’s biggest cheerleader is Shirley Iwata.

“I met Emily Ornelas when she and Ernie moved to the West End of Mineral County. We became good friends and enjoyed coffee dates and helping care for family and friends. Emily generously helped others with providing food, home care, emotional support. She was a strong Christian woman and held firmly to her faith in God. Emily and Ernie have provided endless support to the Mineral County community, both in service and financially bringing many wonderful projects to help the Town of Superior grow. We feel certain that she is in the loving arms of her Heavenly Father. She was a most amazing person and a dear, dear friend.”

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 26 at the Superior High School Gymnasium. Ernie invites anyone wishing to attend.