Emma England AshfordJanuary 12, 1922 - September 07, 2017VisaliaEmma England Ashford was born on January 12, 1922 in Alma, Arkansas to her parents Rudolph and Eula England. She graduated from Exeter High School in 1940 and married Raymon Lee Ashford on November 28, 1943. They attended Visalia Church of Christ on Court Street where she served as the secretary and bookkeeper.She and Raymon spent countless hours in their large garden and raising farm animals to feed their family and friends who worked alongside them during harvest and canning time. They lived a truly self-sustaining lifestyle. Emma loved crocheting and made an afghan for each family member. Most Sundays consisted of church with lunch at their house with extended family singing all afternoon until it was time for evening service. Their frugal lifestyle allowed them to be extraordinarily generous with their time, home and financial resources.Emma worked in the fields as a young girl and later went to work at C.J. Shannon & Sons for Dick Shannon as a secretary and bookkeeper. As their farming operation grew she worked for many of their companies including Elbow Gin operated by the Shannon and Ritchie families.She is preceded in death by her son Jerry Lee Ashford, her husband Raymon Lee Ashford, grandson David Ashford, seven brothers and one sister. She is survived by her sister Patricia Fuller Berk, daughters, Judy Coble (Vergil), Rebecca Vilhauer (David), grandchildren Sheila Ashford, Jenna Wyatt(Tom), Thad Ashford (Emmy), Erin Yocum (Brice), Lane Colburn (Scott), Casey Vilhauer (Sarah), and 16 great-grandchildren.A celebration of life will be held at Miller Memorial Chapel 1120 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA on Friday September 15, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Please dress in cheerful, bright colors.Donations may be made to the Christian Relief Fund, PO BOX 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114-9955 that is currently providing disaster relief for hurricane Harvey victims. Emma was a founding sponsor of this fund. Online-www.christianrelieffund.orgTributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com