East Alton—Emma Margaret Tharp Harper, 91, passed away Friday, April 10, 2026 at BJC Evelyn's House in St. Louis.

Born July 15, 1934 in Greene County, she was one of nine children of Ebert and Florence (Greene) Damm.

Emma worked as a restaurant manager.  She enjoyed crochet, embroidery and quilting, as well as gardening, reading, and playing Bingo.  She also watched a lot of Survivor, soap operas, and the Game Show Network.  Emma was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, the Alton VFW Post #1308, and the Ladybugs.

Survivors include her children, Kimberly (George) McGilvrey, and two grandkids she helped raise who were the light of her life, Emma (Zach) Melcher and Tony (Brittany) Wood; son Tim (Robyn) Tharp, six other grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; and daughters-in-law Cindy and Judy Tharp.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Harper; her former husband John Tharp; and two sons, Dan and Mark Tharp.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Apr. 14 at Paynic Home for Funerals from 10 a.m. until services begin at 12 p.m.  Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens.

Memorials may be given to Catty Shack, a cat rescue in Hamel where she got her beloved Thorn.

An online guestbook is available at www.paynicfh.com