Emma Jane Rolak

Emma Jane Rolak was born December 20th, 1942 to Joe Henry Sheffield and Alma Marie Sheffield in Call, TX. Growing up, she called many small towns across southeast Texas home alongside her parents and older sister Cynthia Sue Stark. Though her life would later take her far beyond her humble beginnings, it was always an area she considered home.

She first married James Austin Bailey Sr. and while the marriage was a brief chapter of her life, it was one that brought her the joy of motherhood through her three sons James Austin Bailey Jr., Curtis Wade Bailey, and Douglas Ray Bailey. This time in her life was dedicated to raising her children and this devotion to family always remained a central pillar in her life. As her children grew, she returned to work and was employed as a bookkeeper for the Sun Oil Co.

She later married the love of her life, and the catalyst for many of her life’s greatest adventures, Arnold Joseph Rolak. Of their adventures and travels, the most notable was their half-decade stint in Bermuda. During this time, she enjoyed the slower pace of island life and took up popular local activities like tennis. Upon returning to the states, they settled permanently in Houston and she resumed her position at Sun where she remained until retirement.

Outside of employment and even in retirement, she rarely stayed still. She had a love of creating with her hands that was evident in her many hobbies including stain-glass making, needlepoint, embroidery, knitting, and crochet, but was best known for her prowess as a sewist and quilter. She had a unique ability for turning mere fabric and thread into expressions of her talent, love, and artistry and freely gifted her quilts to those around her – quilts that are now an enduring treasure for future generations. She remained active through bowling, boasting scores over 200, and was a member of the Women’s International Bowling Congress and later the United States Bowling Congress in Houston.

Apart from family, another central pillar in her life was her faith. She was a devoted and lifelong member of the Church of Christ and found a community for worship wherever she went. Her spirituality was not only something she practiced, but something she embodied in her daily life through her actions.

Those who knew Emma would describe her as a humble, soft-spoken, and God-fearing woman, but she was full of of wisdom, aphorisms of life, and many stories of adventure if one took the time to listen. She passed on May 5th 2026 in Jasper, TX. at 83 years of age. She is reunited in death with her parents Joe and Alma, her husband Arnold, sons Douglas and James, and dogs Chichi and Lucy. Her legacy lives on through her sister Cynthia, son Curtis and wife Pam, daughter-in-law Debora, daughter-in-law Julie, eleven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and countless others.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, May 16th at the Schultz Funeral Home in Jasper with visitation starting at 11:00AM, service at 12:00PM, and a reception to follow.