Harold Eugene Emory
November 30, 1919 - August 16, 2009
Obituary
‘Harold Eugene ‘Hap’ Emory died age 89 on Sunday, August 16, 2009. Born in Ohio, Hap grew up during the Great Depression and joined the Navy in 1938. He was aboard the USS California at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. After rescuing himself, Hap climbed aboard a whale boat and rescued wounded sailors from the USS Nevada. Hap also served on the USS Indianapolis, and ended the war on the USS Astoria at the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In 1952, Hap met and married Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Prescott, of New York City. After twenty years living in New Lenox, Illinois and working at Argonne National Laboratory, he bought a small house on the Lake of Egypt in Marion, Illinois, and spent his time fishing, having coffee with other men of like mind, and enjoying his family. The family 4th of July parties were legendary. Towards the end of his life, he decided to move to Federal Way, Washington to spend his final years in the care and company of his oldest son. Hap was a true American original, and the world will not see his like again. He was preceded in death by his wife and his only daughter, Darcy. He is survived by his three sons, Doug, Craig, and Bruce, and four grandchildren, Ian, Nathan, Carlyn, and Madyson. Hap will be missed. The family prefers memorial contributions be made to Franciscan Health Systems. www.fhshealth.org/Services, or 253 534-7000.’