Emma Lou Gist (Hamilton)

Emma Lou Gist

Emma Lou Hamilton Gist was called home to be with the Lord on February 5, 2016. Lou was born in Beaver, Utah on April 19, 1921 to Alexander R. Hamilton and Mittie Barnett Hamilton.  She was raised and attended school in Beaver until the age of 14 when her mother passed away.  Therefater, she, her father and younger sister moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where she attended school and graduated from South High School.  After graduation she worked for the Bell Telephone Company and Sears and Roebuck stores.

In 1941 she met and married Richard Wayne Adamson in Salt Lake City.  Lou and Wayne had two children of this union; Kathie in 1942 and Rick in 1945.  Wayne passed away in 1961 while skiing with the family.  At the time Lou was working as a specialist for the Utah State Tax Commission.

In July 1965, Lou was attending a class reunion in Beaver and while staying at a local hotel, she was introduced to a gentleman at the hotel who would become the love of her life; Jim Cooper of Montrose.  Jim was a heavy equipment operator working on the new freeway near Beaver.  In December, 1965 Lou and Jim were married in Salt Lake City and in April, 1966 moved to Montrose; a place she always loved and loved to call home.  Unfortunately, Jim passed away eight years later in 1973.  During that brief time, Lou and Jim showed that a couple can love deeply and “have it all”.

Thereafter, Lou continued to spend winters in Arizona and began to travel extensively.  In 1986 she married Willard Gist of Arizona who passed away in 1989.

Throughout all of these losses in her life, Lou continued to be an upbeat, positive and spiritual person.  She continued to enjoy traveling and spending winter in Arizona and summer in Montrose into her late 80’s.  She enjoyed being around her family and found particular love and pleasure in her grandsons, Alexi and Bradley.  Lou was an extraordinary Mother, Grandmother, wife and friend here on earth but was prepared, anxious and ready to go home and be with God.  She will be dearly missed but forever remembered.

Lou is survived by her daughter, Kathie Adamson, her son Rick (Jeanne) Adamson, grandsons Alexi (Brenda) Adamson of Montrose and Bradley Adamson, Denver and her sister Barbara (Ken) Gempler of Salt Lake City, Step- grandsons Matt (Melissa) Lawrence of Castle Rock, Mike (Doreen) Lawrence of Las Vegas and numerous nieces, nephews and great grandchildren.

As a final request from Lou, when you think of her, toast to her a glass of wine for the pleasure of knowing this find lady and to your continued good health.

At Lou’s request, cremation has taken place and the family has decided to have a memorial in celebration of Lou’s life at a later date.  Flowers and donations may be sent to the Homestead of Montrose, Colorado to help brighten the final days of those senior living there. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home of Montrose.