William Wesley "Wes" Emerson, age 73, passed peacefully to Heaven with family by his side on August 30, 2015. He was born April 7, 1942 to Mary Alice and Dwight Emerson in Kansas City, MO. Wes was active in church wherever he lived, and loved God and his Savior Jesus Christ. He defied the odds by surviving almost two years with pancreatic cancer.

A Memorial Service will be held in Kansas City on Saturday, September 12 at 3:00 PM at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Road, with a reception immediately following.


Wes was the oldest of four children and enjoyed the early days on the trout farm near Ava with Nancy, Marvin, and David. He had experienced world travel when after WWII his father was stationed in the Philippine Islands helping re-establish Philippine independence. Wes attended school in Ava, graduating in 1960. He especially loved playing football. At the AHS 50th Class Reunion there was lots of happy reminiscing and camaraderie with friends!

Wes received his accounting degree from UMKC in 1967, completed his CPA and joined the national accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, & Mitchell.

In 1977 Wes married the love of his life, Joyce, and became dad to her three children, Jeff, Scott, and Jody. Grandchildren came along to Jeff and Allison Long (Katherine, married to Derek Faulkner, and Jackson), Scott and Michelle Emerson (Matt, Grace, Jonathan), Jody and Chris Adams (Hannah and Paden). Wes, Joyce, and family lived in Kansas City, Wichita, Colorado Springs, Springfield, Branson, Warrensburg, and back to Kansas City. Many special times were spent with family and friends on the Emerson trout farm, Crystal Lake Fisheries, near Ava. Also there were trips to the mountains, beaches, ski resorts, and golf courses, including a hole-in-one in Branson! Wes was an excellent hunter and fisherman, especially bass and elk, sharing his passion and skills with both family and friends! Wes and Joyce were avid supporters of all family activities. They were in attendance at many, many sporting events of children and grandchildren, including high school and college level football, baseball, and national level volleyball.

Wes loved his years of hunting, fishing, business, and just being in the woods with his brothers, sister, nieces, and nephews: Marvin Emerson and daughters Michelle Giles (Jacob and Jordan), Pam and Josh Prosono (Emily), Jennifer and David Boaz (Landon and William); David and Shirley Emerson (Dwight and Amelia, Larissa Emerson Wall and Jonathan Wall (Stella and Emerson); Nancy and Al Perryman (Fred Perryman, Annie and Johnathan Blakey (Alexia and Owen).

Wes was the CFO of several natural resource companies, but his crowning achievement was working with AZOMITE, a company mining a natural mineral deposit in Utah, milling and distributing this organic array of "A to Z" of trace minerals and elements, vital to animals and plants. Wonderful success stories of growth and recovery of plants and animals have been the result. Beginning in 1988 and continuing through this summer, he has served in various positions, CEO, President, Chairman of the Board. Wes and his team developed Azomite Mineral Products (AMP) into an international business. Here's the message from AMP President, James D. Phillips, "As current employees of the AZOMITE team have reflected on Wes and their associations with him, descriptions and phrases such as 'man of faith, visionary, thoughtful, loving, persistent, resilient, hard-working, compassionate, and grateful.' Each of our lives has been positively impacted by our association with Wes and Joyce. The world is a better place because of Wes."

Wes will be deeply missed by all his family, friends, and business associates.

Cards may be sent to Crystal Lake Fisheries, RR 2 Box 528, Ava, MO 65608, and will be shared with family.
Memorial gifts in Wes' name may be sent to Turkey Creek Cemetery, c/o Barbara Breshears, RR 2 Box 786, Ava, MO 65608, or to Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64114 for the Kenya Project.