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Fellow Cougars,

We celebrated the life of our “Coach” Robert "Chick" Embrey at Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido. It was a full house of family, friends, colleagues and former players gathering to pay their respects.

Emmanuel Faith's Pastor Greg Lane welcomed all in attendance and, as Mr. Embrey was a U.S. Navy Veteran, the celebration started with the playing of "Taps" and then followed by the folding of the United States flag and its presentation to the Embrey family.

An opening prayer was led by Logos Christian Church Pastor Dave Ruscetta and followed up by selected scripture readings offered by Chick’s Grandson’s Matt and Sam Embrey.

Mark Embrey offered a loving eulogy for his father, noting the major events of his influential life. Robert was born in rural Oklahoma and there he developed a passion for the outdoors and fishing. As a young boy, he moved with family to Escondido. As a teenager, he accepted Jesus as his Savior and that event had made all the difference for the rest of his life.

Into his high school years, Chick was a natural leader and fierce competitor. After a brief stint in the U.S. Navy towards the end of WWII, he attended Fullerton Jr. College, where he met his wife Ann. He then went on to San Diego State college. Chick excelled playing football at both colleges.

Soon after graduation, Chick was hired as a P.E. Instructor and Coach at Escondido High. And as coach of the Cougar Football team, the Embrey's Legacy began.

He won renown for a winning football program using discipline, innovation, motivation and team comradery. But more than that, Coach was driven to introduce the salvation of Jesus Christ to his students, colleagues and friends. He did this mostly through his Christ-like example of kindness, friendship, empathy, loyalty, humor, sincerity, and humility, to name a few.

Chick was a loving husband to Ann and devoted father to Bobby, Mark and Danny. Mark confessed that, while growing up, he wanted to be just like his dad. High praise indeed. To the end of his life, Coach was the example of Christian grace and dignity to others.

A tribute from longtime colleague Coach Dennis Snyder followed. Denny said that Coach Embrey led his young life for the better as Coach inspired him to accept the Lord and, with Coach Embrey's influence and example, inspired Denny to continue that special sort of care for others in his life.

Chick's Grandson Reilly Embrey said that he was so very blessed to have been raised in his Grandfather’s influence and guidance. Because of Chick’s reputation, Reilly was amazed how he was given immediate acceptance with anyone he met who knew Coach Embrey.

Speaker after speaker echoed the fact that Coach, while he was very successful on the field both as a player and a coach, was first and foremost a man of faith and his priorities were his family and his Christian mission: helping others to come to know the Lord.

Another often repeated praise for Coach Embrey was that his life influenced so many others to lead a Christ centered life and, in so doing, they too were able to help others similarly. In this way, Coach Embrey's legacy will live on for generations.

Words of Hope were offered by Pastor Greg Lane and he aptly referenced the bible reading "Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your master". So very appropriate for Coach Embrey's life.

Loyal, Strong and True

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VERY IMPORTANT:

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