Rev. Robert A. Emery, 77, of Syracuse, passed away December 9, 2020. He was a man driven by love: for God, his family, his community, and the world. Our deep sadness is met with expectant hope as we tell of his story.
Robert was born in Rutland, Vermont on August 17, 1943 to the late Dexter and Frances Emery. Their stay in Vermont didn't last long as they embarked for India as missionaries in 1947. It was there that life would allow Bob to experience adventures seemingly taken from a storybook. Pet hyenas, horseback riding with family members of the local maharaja, eluding cobras and other venomous snakes, collecting spiders by the hundreds, exploring mountainous terrain, catching monkeys with gourds: all this and much more laid the foundation for a lifetime of tellable tales.
By all accounts, that is exactly what would become of Bob's life: a grand story. After the earlier days in India, the Emery family permanently came back to the States in 1966 where Bob would finish up high school and attend Bible college. These college years would reintroduce Bob to the calling on his life through work in summer camps. A love of Bible teaching, community, and discipleship began to percolate and redirect Bob's life towards full-time ministry and was further fleshed out via multiple seminary degrees and pastoral positions in Texas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Michigan, and, ultimately, Syracuse.
Among other things, these ministerial roles allowed Bob to incorporate both the stories and the culture of his youth. The practice of teaching would come to characterize his life as his love for learning was intertwined with the posture of hospitality displayed before him in India. This was exemplified by the fact that Bob became known as much for his theological acumen as for his inclusive humor and wit. Be it developing relationships over picnics and volleyball, addressing grief in counseling sessions, or developing networks of educators for the sake of the Church, all was undergirded by a making of room for others. It is difficult to capture in words how equally infectious his smile and intelligence were. Thankfully, the diverse community left in their wake will speak louder than words for decades to come.
For many, he was a teacher, a pastor, a counselor; for us, he was a husband, dad, and papa. We, perhaps more than anyone, were able to hear and experience the tales of his life. In doing so, we became part of them and found our own identities there. Through twists and turns, differences and similarities, tears and hugs, there was always a place in the story for us. And this is precisely the legacy he has left for us through hours spent around the dining room table together reflecting on our family's life: learning how to make room for others through stories of adventure and hope.
The past several years we have seen parts of him fade due to Alzheimer's, but even though memory loss has led to story loss, it hasn't equated to loss of personhood. His suffering has now ceased but love carries on as it always has and always will. For even though memory may fade, love does not. And for that, we are thankful.
We are seeking to continue this story through the formation of the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. In lieu of flowers, we would ask you to donate to this fund where all proceeds will go to our extended family in India who minister through Agape Free Methodist Church and COUNT Ministries. There they train pastors and evangelists, care for and educate thousands of children, and uplift others through vital economic development in agriculture and job training.
Gifts for this fund should be mailed to:
Global Impact Missions
Robert Emery Memorial Fund
PO Box 910254
Lexington, KY 40591
Checks need to be made payable to Global Impact Missions. Please designate in your correspondence that the gift is for the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. Donors will get a tax-deductible receipt.
Robert was born in Rutland, Vermont on August 17, 1943 to the late Dexter and Frances Emery. Their stay in Vermont didn't last long as they embarked for India as missionaries in 1947. It was there that life would allow Bob to experience adventures seemingly taken from a storybook. Pet hyenas, horseback riding with family members of the local maharaja, eluding cobras and other venomous snakes, collecting spiders by the hundreds, exploring mountainous terrain, catching monkeys with gourds: all this and much more laid the foundation for a lifetime of tellable tales.
By all accounts, that is exactly what would become of Bob's life: a grand story. After the earlier days in India, the Emery family permanently came back to the States in 1966 where Bob would finish up high school and attend Bible college. These college years would reintroduce Bob to the calling on his life through work in summer camps. A love of Bible teaching, community, and discipleship began to percolate and redirect Bob's life towards full-time ministry and was further fleshed out via multiple seminary degrees and pastoral positions in Texas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Michigan, and, ultimately, Syracuse.
Among other things, these ministerial roles allowed Bob to incorporate both the stories and the culture of his youth. The practice of teaching would come to characterize his life as his love for learning was intertwined with the posture of hospitality displayed before him in India. This was exemplified by the fact that Bob became known as much for his theological acumen as for his inclusive humor and wit. Be it developing relationships over picnics and volleyball, addressing grief in counseling sessions, or developing networks of educators for the sake of the Church, all was undergirded by a making of room for others. It is difficult to capture in words how equally infectious his smile and intelligence were. Thankfully, the diverse community left in their wake will speak louder than words for decades to come.
For many, he was a teacher, a pastor, a counselor; for us, he was a husband, dad, and papa. We, perhaps more than anyone, were able to hear and experience the tales of his life. In doing so, we became part of them and found our own identities there. Through twists and turns, differences and similarities, tears and hugs, there was always a place in the story for us. And this is precisely the legacy he has left for us through hours spent around the dining room table together reflecting on our family's life: learning how to make room for others through stories of adventure and hope.
The past several years we have seen parts of him fade due to Alzheimer's, but even though memory loss has led to story loss, it hasn't equated to loss of personhood. His suffering has now ceased but love carries on as it always has and always will. For even though memory may fade, love does not. And for that, we are thankful.
We are seeking to continue this story through the formation of the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. In lieu of flowers, we would ask you to donate to this fund where all proceeds will go to our extended family in India who minister through Agape Free Methodist Church and COUNT Ministries. There they train pastors and evangelists, care for and educate thousands of children, and uplift others through vital economic development in agriculture and job training.
Gifts for this fund should be mailed to:
Global Impact Missions
Robert Emery Memorial Fund
PO Box 910254
Lexington, KY 40591
Checks need to be made payable to Global Impact Missions. Please designate in your correspondence that the gift is for the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. Donors will get a tax-deductible receipt.
Rev. Robert A. Emery, 77, of Syracuse, passed away December 9, 2020. He was a man driven by love: for God, his family, his community, and the world. Our deep sadness is met with expectant hope as we tell of his story.
Robert was born in Rutland, Vermont on August 17, 1943 to the late Dexter and Frances Emery. Their stay in Vermont didn't last long as they embarked for India as missionaries in 1947. It was there that life would allow Bob to experience adventures seemingly taken from a storybook. Pet hyenas, horseback riding with family members of the local maharaja, eluding cobras and other venomous snakes, collecting spiders by the hundreds, exploring mountainous terrain, catching monkeys with gourds: all this and much more laid the foundation for a lifetime of tellable tales.
By all accounts, that is exactly what would become of Bob's life: a grand story. After the earlier days in India, the Emery family permanently came back to the States in 1966 where Bob would finish up high school and attend Bible college. These college years would reintroduce Bob to the calling on his life through work in summer camps. A love of Bible teaching, community, and discipleship began to percolate and redirect Bob's life towards full-time ministry and was further fleshed out via multiple seminary degrees and pastoral positions in Texas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Michigan, and, ultimately, Syracuse.
Among other things, these ministerial roles allowed Bob to incorporate both the stories and the culture of his youth. The practice of teaching would come to characterize his life as his love for learning was intertwined with the posture of hospitality displayed before him in India. This was exemplified by the fact that Bob became known as much for his theological acumen as for his inclusive humor and wit. Be it developing relationships over picnics and volleyball, addressing grief in counseling sessions, or developing networks of educators for the sake of the Church, all was undergirded by a making of room for others. It is difficult to capture in words how equally infectious his smile and intelligence were. Thankfully, the diverse community left in their wake will speak louder than words for decades to come.
For many, he was a teacher, a pastor, a counselor; for us, he was a husband, dad, and papa. We, perhaps more than anyone, were able to hear and experience the tales of his life. In doing so, we became part of them and found our own identities there. Through twists and turns, differences and similarities, tears and hugs, there was always a place in the story for us. And this is precisely the legacy he has left for us through hours spent around the dining room table together reflecting on our family's life: learning how to make room for others through stories of adventure and hope.
The past several years we have seen parts of him fade due to Alzheimer's, but even though memory loss has led to story loss, it hasn't equated to loss of personhood. His suffering has now ceased but love carries on as it always has and always will. For even though memory may fade, love does not. And for that, we are thankful.
We are seeking to continue this story through the formation of the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. In lieu of flowers, we would ask you to donate to this fund where all proceeds will go to our extended family in India who minister through Agape Free Methodist Church and COUNT Ministries. There they train pastors and evangelists, care for and educate thousands of children, and uplift others through vital economic development in agriculture and job training.
Gifts for this fund should be mailed to:
Global Impact Missions
Robert Emery Memorial Fund
PO Box 910254
Lexington, KY 40591
Checks need to be made payable to Global Impact Missions. Please designate in your correspondence that the gift is for the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. Donors will get a tax-deductible receipt.
Robert was born in Rutland, Vermont on August 17, 1943 to the late Dexter and Frances Emery. Their stay in Vermont didn't last long as they embarked for India as missionaries in 1947. It was there that life would allow Bob to experience adventures seemingly taken from a storybook. Pet hyenas, horseback riding with family members of the local maharaja, eluding cobras and other venomous snakes, collecting spiders by the hundreds, exploring mountainous terrain, catching monkeys with gourds: all this and much more laid the foundation for a lifetime of tellable tales.
By all accounts, that is exactly what would become of Bob's life: a grand story. After the earlier days in India, the Emery family permanently came back to the States in 1966 where Bob would finish up high school and attend Bible college. These college years would reintroduce Bob to the calling on his life through work in summer camps. A love of Bible teaching, community, and discipleship began to percolate and redirect Bob's life towards full-time ministry and was further fleshed out via multiple seminary degrees and pastoral positions in Texas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Michigan, and, ultimately, Syracuse.
Among other things, these ministerial roles allowed Bob to incorporate both the stories and the culture of his youth. The practice of teaching would come to characterize his life as his love for learning was intertwined with the posture of hospitality displayed before him in India. This was exemplified by the fact that Bob became known as much for his theological acumen as for his inclusive humor and wit. Be it developing relationships over picnics and volleyball, addressing grief in counseling sessions, or developing networks of educators for the sake of the Church, all was undergirded by a making of room for others. It is difficult to capture in words how equally infectious his smile and intelligence were. Thankfully, the diverse community left in their wake will speak louder than words for decades to come.
For many, he was a teacher, a pastor, a counselor; for us, he was a husband, dad, and papa. We, perhaps more than anyone, were able to hear and experience the tales of his life. In doing so, we became part of them and found our own identities there. Through twists and turns, differences and similarities, tears and hugs, there was always a place in the story for us. And this is precisely the legacy he has left for us through hours spent around the dining room table together reflecting on our family's life: learning how to make room for others through stories of adventure and hope.
The past several years we have seen parts of him fade due to Alzheimer's, but even though memory loss has led to story loss, it hasn't equated to loss of personhood. His suffering has now ceased but love carries on as it always has and always will. For even though memory may fade, love does not. And for that, we are thankful.
We are seeking to continue this story through the formation of the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. In lieu of flowers, we would ask you to donate to this fund where all proceeds will go to our extended family in India who minister through Agape Free Methodist Church and COUNT Ministries. There they train pastors and evangelists, care for and educate thousands of children, and uplift others through vital economic development in agriculture and job training.
Gifts for this fund should be mailed to:
Global Impact Missions
Robert Emery Memorial Fund
PO Box 910254
Lexington, KY 40591
Checks need to be made payable to Global Impact Missions. Please designate in your correspondence that the gift is for the Robert Emery Memorial Fund. Donors will get a tax-deductible receipt.
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