Richard “Mike” Emerson age, 77 of Sulphur Springs, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025. He was born in Sulphur Springs on June 5, 1948, the son of JM and Dian Caldwell Emerson. He married Cherise Liggett on August 9, 1969, in Quitman, Texas and she survives.
Mike was the former co-owner of Tapp Funeral Home and Furniture Store, a Funeral Director at Tapp and West Oaks Funeral Homes and the great grandson of HW Tapp who founded Tapp Funeral Home in 1901. He was a certified EMT back in the day when funeral homes ran the local ambulance businesses. He was a great interior designer and loved helping local customers design their homes. Mike grew up in Thousand Oaks, California where he enjoyed surfing and riding his bike along the coastline.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years Cherise Emerson; son Brandon Emerson of Ft. Worth, daughter Brooke Emerson Jakubik and Brian of Allen, granddaughter Brinley Jakubik also of Allen. Brother Jay Emerson of Oklahoma and Laury Emerson of Oregon.
Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home.
