Emery Francis Bator

Born August 3, 1910 passed away July 28, 2011 with friends and family present in Eureka, CA. He was one of eleven children born to John and Suzanne Bator in Cle Elum Washington. He graduated from Cle Elum High School in 1928. His parents were immigrants from Slovakia and although his family was poor, his father was a coal miner, Emery always talked about how loving and close knit his family was and he was very proud of his Slovakian heritage. His first jobs were as a truck driver for Standard Oil and a bank teller in his home town in Washington. During the depression, he was a lead foreman with the CCC and has always fondly remembered his time in the corp. He attended and graduated from Washington State University with a degree in business in 1938. He worked at the university in the Bursar's office, as a tutor, a teacher's assistant and other positions to pay for his tuition and assist his brother, George Bator who graduated with Emery. He was unable to enlist during World War II because of hearing problems so instead, worked for the Government Accounting Office as a fraud investigator of war contracts. After the war, he worked as the Chief Financial Officer for Stanford Research Institute. He was the thirteenth employee hired by SRI and was very proud of his work there. He was married to his best friend and life-long love, Patricia Bator (Cavanaugh), in 1941.

He is survived by his grandchildren, Rich and Dominique; his great grandchildren, Jacob and Hailey Chase and Cavanaugh and William Carter; and his only surviving sibling, Ed Bator of Moses Lake, Washington. He will also be greatly missed by his son-in-law Richard Chase and his granddaughter-in-law, Laurie Dutra. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia; their daughter, Mary Sue Chase, his parents, John and Suzanne Bator; and his brothers and sisters, Ann, John, Steve, Mary, George, Andy, Eleanor, Clarence, and Albert.

Family and friends were the most important part of life for Emery and we hope you will celebrate his life and the love, support and humor he shared so freely with those around him. Pierce Mortuary will have visitation on August 2 starting at 4pm and a rosary will follow at 7pm. There will be a funeral mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on August 3 at 10am with burial to follow at St. Bernard's Cemetery and then a reception at Sacred Heart Church. Memorial donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Pierce Mortuary, 707 H Street, Eureka, 707-442-3751.