James Anton Emerson, Sr. was born at home in Albion, Washington on October 28, 1922 to Anton and Ruth Kenoyer Emerson. He went to the Lord from his home in Albion, Washington on April 5, 2016.
Dad's father was crippled and unable to work, and Dad spent his childhood and teenage years helping to support his family during the depression. He was a champion worker, and he taught his children to work hard, and attempted to teach his grandchildren the same thing.
Dad had many adventures as a young man, including riding his motorcycle through the middle of a cow at the bottom of Kitzmiller Hill. He also ran through a pig in Albion. One of the stories from Dad was being told as a young man that he would never father children. He decided to prove that doctor wrong, and boy, did he succeed!
Dad joined the United States Coast Guard right after Pearl Harbor was bombed in December 1941. That's a story his kids will have to tell you, because we can't print the details. He served as a gunner's mate on the USS Haida. He served in the Pacific Theatre, mostly in and around Alaska. His favorite spot was Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
He met Mae Annabelle Edwards on a blind date in February 1944. They married on April 18, 1944. They moved to Albion after he got out of the military.
Dad was a farmer who raised a huge garden for many years. Oh, the memories we have of picking potato bugs (a nickel per hundred was the going rate). He raised cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs, and sometimes rabbits to feed his family. He took his children to Wawawai to pick fruit for canning. After the dam went in, he took them to Troy for the same reason.
Dad farmed and worked at several different jobs before beginning work as a stationery engineer at Washington State University in 1953. He retired in 1981, and was always amazed that he was still getting retirement checks more than 35 years later. He also spent 12 years as the City Clerk for Albion. A lot of that included having seven of his kids help by mowing the city park and streets, and reading the water meters in the middle of the winter. The family spent many days at the Albion Cemetery, property which had originally belonged to Dad's grandmother. They made order out of chaos, and did their best to keep it up throughout the years.
On the morning of his death, he told us how proud he was to have been able to do that for the Town. We discussed his "water witching" powers, which he used to help locate the town's "new" well (in the early 1960s). He was amazing to watch.
Following his retirement from WSU, he and Mom went herding sheep for a friend. They spent months in the mountains, camped where they were looking right at Mount Saint Helens. Their baby girl, Dawnie, was cared for by Peggy and Jeff while they traveled. She spent summers and school vacations with her parents and the sheep.
Dad loved to hunt, and did so for many years. He usually took his family to deer camp, but only the big boys went elk hunting with Dad and his friends. One of the great family stories is about how, on one trip, he shot a bear. Any of his family members would be glad to share that and other stories that are too sacrilegious to put into print.
Dad joined the Moose Lodge on March 6, 1947 and was a proud Lifetime member. He received almost every award in the fraternity, including the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award. He held every office of the lodge with the exception of Treasurer, including four-and-a-half terms as Governor. He served the lodge as Administrator for ten years. When he took the position of Administrator, the lodge was in debt with no money in the bank. When he left the chair ten years later, all bills were paid in full, they had no debt, and there was money in the bank.
He joined the Moose Legion on April 9, 1967 and became a Fellow on September 16, 1969. He was elevated to the Pilgrim Degree of Merit on May 27, 1995. He became a member of the 25 club on December 31, 1971 and sponsored 125 members. He sponsored nine members into the Moose Legion in his career.
His contemporaries often told of times when the lodge was out of money and about to close its doors. Every time, he would come back on the board and through his leadership and dedication, the lodge would survive and come back to fraternal and financial health. He believed in mentoring future lodge leaders. He believed that younger men had the ability to lead and he taught them how to do it. These were the same qualities he shared with his children.
Mom died on February 16, 1999. They had eight children, seven of whom survive him. His children and their spouses are Michael and Linda Emerson of Albion, Patrick and Ruth Emerson of Pullman, Jim Jr. and Kathy Emerson of Pullman, Peggy and Jeff Perkins of Albion, Karen and John Eastburn of Pullman, Dan and Vicki Emerson of Albion, and Dawn and Corey Krantz of Pocatello, Idaho. He was preceded in death by Karen's twin, Kevin Emerson.
Dad is also survived by his siblings Evelyn White of Walla Walla, Dick Emerson of Cheney, Don Emerson of Pullman, and Eileen Gregory of Peyton, Colorado. He has many, many nieces and nephews that span several generations.
Dad married Velda Powers on July 5, 2001. Velda passed away on July 5, 2004. They enjoyed travelling and doting on the grandchildren.
Dad left behind dozens and dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and had a pretty good start on a new generation of great-great-grandchildren. He was loved by everyone who knew him.
Dad's greatest wish was to die in his home, in his chair. He was able to do so because of the love and support of his family. Special recognition has to go to Peggy and Jeff Perkins, who watched over Dad with loving care for many years. Michael and Linda Emerson played a huge part in keeping Dad at home this last year. Michael stayed with Dad most of the time. Linda took over feeding him and he especially loved her zucchini bread and chicken noodle soup. Karen Eastburn brought Dad much relief when he was in pain. She gave him wonderful massages! Dawn Krantz brought her children from Pocatello often, home-schooling them in Albion for weeks each year so their Grandpa Jim could visit them.
Jim's kids were all able to gather in his home prior to his death. Many of his grandchildren were able to spend time with him. We have to say a special thank you to the grandchildren who helped.
A celebration of Jim's life will held at the Albion Community Church at 3:00 on Friday, April 8. The Pullman Moose Lodge will give a Tribute of Service presentation at 4:30 at the Moose and host a dinner for his family and friends. Jim has been cremated and burial will take place when the lilacs are in bloom at the Albion Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to the Building Fund at the Pullman Moose Lodge, 150 SE Kamiaken, Pullman 99163.