Emily Sweet

EMILY SWEET

Cedar Rapids

Emily Mae Sweet of Cedar Rapids, died at home on Saturday, July 18, 2015, following a lengthy illness.

Emily was born Jan. 13, 1934, in Sterling, Whiteside County, Ill., a daughter of James Dwight Sweet and Verda Mae (McDonald) Sweet. Emily grew up on a farm near Garden Plain, Whiteside County, Ill., and attended grade school at Garden Plain Country School. The family moved to Mount Hope, Kan., in 1944, where Emily completed high school in 1951. She attended Colorado Women's College for two years, then Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where she received her music education degree in 1955. Emily's first teaching position was in Chadwick, Ill., where she taught instrumental and vocal music for two years; then instrumental music in Milledgeville, Ill.; followed by three years in Wheatland, Iowa; and four years in DeWitt, Iowa. In 1966, she received her master of music education degree from the University of Missouri. That fall, Emily began teaching orchestra at McKinley Junior High in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 1989.

Through the years, Emily was a church organist, choir director, accompanist, director of the McKinley string ensembles and was a member of several music education associations, serving as secretary of the America String Teachers Association. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Emily was predeceased by her parents and brother, James L. Sweet.

She is survived by her sister, Marilyn J. Sweet; brother, Timothy M. (Jackie) Sweet; sister-in-law, Beryl Sweet; many nieces and nephews; and her good friend, Claudia Warfel.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 23, at Cedar Memorial Chapel, followed by services at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Garden Plain Cemetery in Illinois.

Memorials may be directed to Mercy Hospice, Cedar Rapids; Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids; American Lung Association; or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.