FRANKLIN EMERICK Obituary

FRANKLIN WILLIAM “FRANK” EMERICK
January 5, 1936 ˜ June 28, 2022

Franklin William “Frank” Emerick, age 86, born Jan. 5, 1936, in the house where he grew up on NE Cedar Creek Rd. in North Clark County. He left us peacefully on June 28, 2022, after working on the family farm where he lived the majority of his life. He is survived by Roberta May (Ferguson) Emerick, his loving wife of 66 years. Parents were Claude Sylvanus Emerick (1910-1988) and Goldie Ester (Cox) Emerick (1913-1988). Children, Leslie Karen Emerick (husband, Dennis Bloom with his sons, Dylan and Ben); Curtis Alan Emerick (wife, Gracie Campos with her daughter, Emma). Grandchildren, Chad Allen Emerick (wife, Katie) and great grandchildren, Oliver and Esther; Chelsey Ann (Emerick) Martin (husband, Dustin) and great-grandchildren, Mavric and Hendric; Ruby Jane (Baker) Riibe (husband, Dustin). Preceding him in death was his sister, Estella May (Emerick) Sawyer (1931-1986) and her husband, Burke (1932-2016). Uncle Frank’s extended family: Niece, Jenny (Sawyer) Tingley (husband, Jerry), grandnieces, Karli Pittman, (husband, Michael), son, Jett, Katelin Harteloo and Haley Medina (husband, Mario), children Cruz, Cyrus, Lola and Audra. Nephews, Stan Sawyer (wife, Cindy), grandnieces, Kathryn Harris (husband, Dustin), children, Travin, Brodin and Joselyn, and Emma Sawyer. Barry Sawyer (wife, Wendy), grandniece, Estella Myers (husband, Andrew) and sons, Mason and Burkley, and grandnephew, Kenny Burke Sawyer.
Frank attended Green Mountain School and graduated from LaCenter High, Class of ’54. After graduation, took automotive and welding classes at Clark College and logged two seasons for Harbor Plywood. First joined the Marine Corps Reserve then transferred to the US Air Force. Aug. 16, 1956, while on leave to attend his sister’s wedding (Aug. 10), he married his high school sweetheart, Roberta. Part of their courtship was to learn to skate - as her parents owned and operated the LaCenter Roller Rink. Their two children were born at Fairchild AFB near Spokane. He was deployed in 1958 to Guam at Andersen AFB as a weather observer and worked in the early typhoon warning center. He was joined by his family after Curtis reached 6 mos. of age. He thoroughly enjoyed being a member of a diver’s group - spearfishing and shell collecting. He refurbished a quonset hut for their home and sold his daily “catch” to supplement his income. They returned stateside to the family property after his honorable discharge in 1960. Frank later added two additions to an existing cabin built for his grandparents which served as the family home until his passing. His first job after returning home was with International Paper as a mail carrier. With earlier survey experience working for Pettijohn Engineering, he joined the US Forest Service as an engineer - locating, surveying, designing, costing, preparing contracts and inspecting roads. He served as District Engineer on the Canyon Creek Ranger District for nine years. When Mt. St. Helens blew in 1980, he returned to the Monument and retired in 1991 after 31 years.
Frank was an active member of the North Clark Lions Club for 50 years. Frank and Roberta joined the Timber Toppers Square Dance Club and worked to renovate the old Tum Tum Log Cabin on Chelatchie Prairie for the group that was active for over 10 years. After retirement, Frank and Roberta (primary school teacher, Amboy and Yacolt, 1973-93), worked on the restoration of the 1910 United Brethren Church in Amboy to become the North Clark Historical Museum. They are charter members of the museum and were active in all phases of restoration and development for over 25 years. Frank served as president of the board 1990-1991. As building chairman and project manager, he sawed several beams for the old church renovation project. He designed and sawed the lumber for a museum barn to house horse-drawn equipment, implements and a blacksmith shop. Frank purchased the adjoining Wise shop and house and renovated it to become a rental. The museum later purchased the property for future development.
Member of the Volcano A’s with a coupe and Tudor he restored. He entered nearly every Amboy Territorial Days parade since 1961 with either a square dance float or representing the museum and finally his two 1930 Model A’s. He spent many hours on the family tree farm. Member of Farm Forestry and NARFE. Frank, along with family and friends, built a “clam cabin” at Ocean Park. When the tides were right, he was on the beach ’til the sun went down.
Burial at Mt. View Cemetery, NE 119th Ave., LaCenter, WA (View), Sat., July 16 at 10 a.m. Celebration of Life follows at the Emerick property on NE Emerick Rd. Bring potluck and chairs.
Memorial donations appreciated to the NCH Museum, PO Box 296, Amboy, WA 98601. Arrangements: Layne’s Funeral Home, Battle Ground, WA.
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