John Thatcher Emery

John Thatcher Emery, age 69, of Gearhart, died Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at home, after a brief illness. He was born April 21, 1941, in Portland, to Dr. Lee Edward Emery and Elizabeth (Thatcher) Emery. His parents preceded him in death. In 1958, he graduated from Lincoln High School. He went on to graduate from Portland State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Mr. Emery worked as a construction engineering manager at The Boeing Company in Seattle for 30 years, retiring in 1996. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Joan Emery of Gearhart; two daughters, Jane Emery and her husband, Russ Nachtweih of Renton, Wash., and Dr. Joan M. Emery and her husband, Steve Hatzenbeler of Seattle; a son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Kathy Girdler of Red Lake Falls, Minn.; five grandchildren, Clara, Evan and Gavin Girdler and Isabel and Jillian Hatzenbeler; and a brother, Dr. Lee Emery and his wife, Susan, of Tigard and Gearhart. Family members said he loved boating, fishing, vacations in Hawaii and his home in Gearhart. He and his wife made several long-distance cruises in their Pacific Trawler around Vancouver Island, and up the inside passage to Alaska. They said he was a brilliant mechanical engineer and was a master at fixing anything. His friends often sought out his expertise in boating and construction. A reception in his honor is being planned for January at the Astoria Golf & Country Club. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements.