ROBERT CARR EMERSON (Submitted by Syd Carr)

Robert Carr Emerson was born September 8, 1918 to Robert and Stella (Carr) Emerson in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. 6 months later, the family returned to Stone County where Bob spent the rest of his life.

Growing up at the Emerson home between Reeds Spring and Cape Fair, he ws truly a free soul. Bob was perfectly at home in the hills and hollows of the Ozarks and roamed all the areas between Peach Orchard, Bear Den, and the James river.

His life allowed him to witness and participate in some of the most important events of the 20th Century.  Born at the close of World War 1, he grew up in the lean times of the Great Depression and was briefly a part of the  western migration of the '30s. He was in the CCC's, served in the European Theater during World War 2, and prospered in the post war economic boom.

He and his wife Josephine (Hughes) worked hard all their lives.  He owned the Emerson Canning Company, was a partner in E&M Farm Supply, and started the Reeds Spring Real Estate Company With Josephine. On the side, he sold Agwagon crop Dusters, flew as a crop duster, and raised every kind of livestock from turkeys to pigs.

Bob Emerson was a life-long lover of aviation and built his own airport just outside of Reeds Spring. His great joy was flying, especially crop dusting, and building his own airplanes.  Bob was a life-long Democrat, and an active participant in the life if his community. He served on the Reeds Spring School Board, the City Council, and as Stone County Committeeman for the Democrat Party.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine, his parents, Robert and Stella and his sister, Betty Emerson Klieber.

Bob is survived by his daughters, Roberta Ingrassia of Rockford, Illinois and Melinda Reed of Seaford, Virginia, his brother, Joe Emerson,  Granddaughter Catherine Ingrassia, Grandson Robert Reed, 2 great-grandchildren, Sophia Vita McCrimmon and Paul Paxton McCrimmon, his companion, Ruth Murray, and loving nieces and nephews.

He will be remembered by his family and friends for his generosity, his kindness, his loyalty, his love of life, books and humor.

Robert Carr Emerson died at his home, August 23, 2002. He is buried in the family plot at Yocum Pond.

 Somewhere in the Big Blue that free soul is circling lazily over his beloved Ozarks- no big hurry:  Below is the Emerson Airport, Reeds Spring, to the north, the old home place and remains of the Emerson Factory.  All his to view from that peculiar perspective enjoyed only by lovers of the sky.

Maybe he is wandering down Peach Orchard or Bear Den with Williard Perkins.  Perhaps Willie and Chester Carr will meet them somewheres. Jokes, tall stories and maybe even a nip or two.

It could be that he is sitting quietly with his life-long love, Josephine. Tenderly recalling their good life together, speaking of their family that they loved so much, of the many friends they had made through the years.

Wherever that dear friend and cousin is, he will always live in our fondest memories..