Roderick Richard Emery

It is with heavy hearts that the Emery family bids farewell to the most substantial Dick we’ve had the good fortunate to know and love. Roderick “Dick” Emery left us peacefully on August 20, 2023 with his wife, Leslie and his sons by his side.

Our Papa Dick was a man who personified the success through hard work mentality while also finding joy and humor in each day. Dick was a “by the bootstraps” kind of guy who approached each day with a sense of adventure and humor.

Born in Centralia, Illinois on April 12, 1936, Dick moved with his mother to Seattle by train.His boyhood years were spent living up and down the West Coast where he especially enjoyed the summers in LA, often riding the bus to Muscle Beach. While living in Oakland, he earned money by gathering and selling milk bottles so that he and his mother could return to Seattle where he attended Garfield High School and later attended University of Washington.

DIck studied insurance which led him to a career in the field. His first ten years were spent as a commercial underwriter for Safeco. Dick, his wife Leslie and their two sons settled in Portland where in 1982, with partner Woody Karrigan, Dick founded Emery & Karrigan, Inc. an insurance brokerage specializing in cranes nationwide.

Dick and his partner built Emery & Karrigan into a successful business which remains in the Emery family with Rick, his eldest son carrying the torch. Upon retirement, Dick and Leslie traveled extensively and enjoyed spending winters in Borrego Springs, California where they have a wide network of friends, in addition to those in Portland.

Dick worked hard, played hard and loved deeply. He loved all animals but especially dogs, man’s best friend. He enjoyed playing golf, skiing, 4-wheeling, fishing and traveling. His laugh was contagious and he was always ready with a joke and a smile.

He leaves his devoted wife of 65+ years, Leslie, as well as his two sons, Rick and Stephen and their families. Papa Dick will be missed profoundly by his grandchildren, Kate, Elizabeth and Camden.

We were so lucky to be able to celebrate milestones with him and have his presence in our lives. He made us laugh to the end - joking with that twinkle in his eye that always had us guessing what he was up to. He is greatly missed.

Services will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church

13715 SW Walker Road • Beaverton

on Saturday, September 9th

Memorial Mass at 11:00

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to

Oregon Humane Society or

Care Partners Hospice of Washington County