Born on August 13, 1928 to Arthur and Delfie Koster in Idaho Falls, ID. Bobbie lost her mother at the age of 8, in the aftermath of the Great Depression, so she filled in the domestic roles of taking care of her little brother and father at an early age. Her first step-mother, Leyla, was a teacher whom she loved, but passed quickly. Her second step mother, Katheryn, was also a teacher and a supportive Grandmother.
Bobbie graduated from Whitman College, was a founding member of the Alpha Phi sorority and it’s first President. After college, she became a teacher in Portland, Oregon where she met and wed Robert Emerson in 1954. While teaching (Terwilliger, Sitton, Brooklyn and Abernathy), and raising a family, Bobbie was involved with several volunteer organizations including PEO, PTA, NW Chapter of 10th Mtn Division, and several neighborhood boards and architectural review committees.
Where ever she was, she helped, volunteered, and made the world a better place. She valued her religion, enjoyed gardening and baseball, loved her friends, her students and the Oregon Coast, but put family above all else. She lived her life by the Golden Rule, always aware of other people, putting their needs equal to and often above her own.
She is preceded in death by her younger brother, John Koster (Kentfield, CA); son-in-law, William Gray III, and husband Robert B. Emerson (both from Portland, OR). Survived by 4 children: Ann Emerson Gray , Bruce Koster Emerson (Kathy), Joan Emerson White (Timothy), Christopher Koster Emerson (Stacy), and 9 grandchildren – Mark, Liza, Melissa, Douglas, Halie, Robert, Hanna, Grace and Chuck.
A private family interment will be in Willamette National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America: “In memory of Bobbie Emerson” 322 8th Ave, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001 or online at: https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate
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