Mrs. Emma Iralee Moragne

June 26, 1917 - January 22, 2016

Mrs. Emma Iralee Moragne went home to be with the Lord, Friday, January 22, 2016 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was born June 26, 1917 in Enid, Oklahoma. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. Emma moved to Chicago, IL where she worked various jobs while attending college. During that time she met and united in marriage to David Moragne, with whom she raised three daughters. They decided to move their family to South Haven, Michigan during the 1940's, and continued working in Chicago, IL by commuting, before deciding to relocate the family to Kalamazoo, Michigan in the early 1950's. Emma continued to attend school, working towards receiving her LPN degree, while being employed at the State Hospital for some years. Emma believed in education, as she is a graduate of Western Michigan University. She taught at Adrian Girls Training School and Plainwell Institute for Men, where she taught Food Services. While raising her three daughters, she continued her education by attending Ferris State University, later graduating and receiving her PhD in Food Services and Management. She later became a Professor at Ferris State University, where she established the Food Service and Management Department and was the Department Chair, until her retirement in the mid 1970's. After retirement, Emma attended Moody Bible Institution, where she received her second PhD in Religious Education. As a Missionary, Emma had a dream to go to Jerusalem, but the Lord had other plans for her, which included starting the Evangelical Bible Institute. Emma purchased the house across the street from her own to teach others theology, which became her passion. In her latter years, she turned her school over to Mount Zion Baptist church. Emma loved baking and in the early years would bake wedding cakes for various brides in the Kalamazoo area. Emma loved the Lord and her family more than anything and always strived to be the best God-fearing role model she could be. She was preceded in death by her loving mother, Pearl L. Harris; step-father, Iralee Moore; her grandparents, Robert and Mary King; her husband, David Moragne; her stepchildren, Margaret and Earl Moragne; her daughter, Margaret Moragne Cox; son-in-laws, Richard Cox, William E. Grice and Morse Cunningham. Emma leaves to cherish her memory: her daughters, Amerriel Overton Cunningham and Marilyn Elaine Grice; her adopted son, Taequan Moragne; 10 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 42 great-great grandchildren; 8 great-great-great grandchildren. Also, her only living, aunt, Louise Young, who is 103 years old.