Gene Sheldon Emerson

Gene Sheldon Emerson was born in Minot, North Dakota to George and Opal Emerson on February 24th, 1934. He was the 5th of seven children that George and Opal would have. At the age of 8, Gene moved with his family to Portland, Oregon where he attended Portsmouth Grade School and Roosevelt High School. Though they had attended school together all their lives, he would not meet his future wife, Alyce, until their senior year in High School when Gene was working with Alyce’s mother. A year after they met, they would marry at the age of 19, enjoying 63 years together.

After graduating from Roosevelt in 1952, Gene worked odd jobs here and there until he found his niche in the Auto Industry, taking a job in the Parts and Service Department for General Motors. Working for GM for 16 years, he transferred to the Detroit, Michigan area where he worked an additional 4 years. Having put in his 20 years with the company, Gene decided to take an early retirement in order to move himself and his family back to Portland where he truly believed they belonged. He was offered and accepted the job of Parts Manager for Heinrich Motors eventually moving on to the Parts Manager at Royal Moore, before retiring for good at the age of 62. Not willing to be idle for long, Gene decided to “volunteer” for the Beaverton School District as a Crossing Guard, first at Cedar Mill School and then Oak Hills, where he and Alyce have lived for 39 years. He was quite surprised to find out that they would actually pay him for this job, even though that was not his intention.

Gene was always very dedicated to the job and had even been quoted as saying “Take 2 aspirin and go to work”. But family always came first for him. He and Alyce had four children together and raised them in a warm and loving home. Gene always wanted to know where the kids were and would worry about them non-stop, even if there was no reason to worry. His family never doubted the love he had for them.

In his free time, he enjoyed yard work, tinkering on cars and wood working. Playing cards with friends and family was a favorite pastime as well. As his children grew up and started playing volleyball and softball in adult leagues, you could always catch Gene and Alyce on the sidelines cheering on the team. Gene also loved music but couldn’t carry a tune himself. Even singing Happy Birthday was not a tune he could manage but the family adjusted and it is now tradition to “sing it like Dad”, loud, proud and out of key, sometimes to the chagrin of others around.

Gene Sheldon Emerson lived a long, fulfilling life. He is survived by his wife Alyce Emerson, daughters Susan Salmonsen (Portland, OR), Gayl Leader (Beaverton, OR), Jayn Parsons (Portland, OR), and son George Emerson (Portland, OR), 10 Grandchildren, and 12 Great Grandchildren. He also leaves behind 2 sisters, Adeline Berry (Portland, OR) and Margie Landreville (Scholls, OR) and one brother Harley Emerson (Bend, OR).

Graveside Service will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4104 NW Skyline Blvd, Portland, Oregon at 1:00PM on Sunday, November 6th. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donations to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org/donate