pMASSENA- Donald W. Emerson, 78, of 6 Elgin Ave., Massena, passed away Friday, April 22, 2016 at the Massena Memorial Hospital on his 78th birthday./ppDonald was born April 22, 1938, in Potsdam, son of the late Stanley and Helen LeClair Emerson. He attended Potsdam schools, but left before graduation to join the United States Army where he served in Korea from July 1955 to July 1958./ppHe earned a general-equivalency diploma while in the military and worked for his father’s taxi business following his honorable discharge. He successfully completed a five-year state apprenticeship through Bovey Plumbing in Potsdam where he earned certification as a plumber, pipefitter and steamfitter. He was hired as a journeyman pipe fitter at General Motors in Massena, where he worked from 1964 until his retirement in 1995./ppHe first married Frances H. “Cookie” Thompson in Potsdam. She predeceased him on September 1, 1969. He then married Jeannie A. Cavis on August 26, 1974, in Brasher Falls./ppDonald is survived by his wife Jeannie; a step-daughter and her husband, Joann M. and Ernie Cohen of Orange Park, FL; a step-son and his wife, James A. and Denise A. Murphy of North Lawrence; a daughter, Tina Hanna of Massena; two grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, James J. and Donna Emerson of Potsdam; and Reginald H. and Cathy Emerson of Hermon; a sister and her companion, Sallie Woodley and Jerry Sawyer of Lisbon; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Paul (Beverly) Bohringer of Litchfield, AZ; and Pattie Cavis of Matthews, NC; a brother-in-law, James (Sue) Cavis of Scottsdale, AZ; and several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews./ppHe was predeceased by a son, Brian D. Emerson on January 31, 1980; a sister, Shirley M. Delosh on August 1, 2006; and a brother, Stanley L. Emerson Jr., on May 2, 2009./ppMr. Emerson was an avid outdoorsman who belonged to a hunting camp with his brother, Jimmy, and his nephews, Chad, Kyle, Dylan and John. He and his wife Jeannie, enjoyed boating on the St. Lawrence River for many years, and traveling, which included a number of tropical cruises and trips to Alaska, Hawaii and Maine. He was also a devoted husband to his wife, Jeannie./ppHe was a trustee at the First United Methodist Church and made many repairs and building improvements there, working with his friend, Ed LaLonde. He was a member of the Potsdam American Legion, and he enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, and was an avid New York Yankees fan./ppFriends may call Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena. Funeral services will be held Friday 11:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Massena with Pastor Heather Stierheim officiating. Burial will follow in Bayside Cemetery in Potsdam./ppMemorial donations may be made in Donald’s memory to First United Methodist Church, 189 Main St., Massena, NY 13662./ppCondolences may be shared online at www.donaldsonfh.com./p
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