CHINA – Ronald Abbott Emery, of China, died on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, with his loved ones by his side at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta. He was 78. Ron lived a full life, and was beloved by his family, his adopted hometown of China, and members of several organizations of which he was a dedicated longtime member. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, grace, and dedication to a life of service.

Ron was born in Hartland on Oct. 30, 1945, to Dulcie (Boone) and Charles Emery. He lost his father when he was four years old. He and his two brothers, Ralph, and Jeff were raised by their mother and her father, Murray Boone. Ron attended one-room schools in Dixmont and then spent two years of high school in Carmel before graduating from Hermon High School in 1964. Ron loved playing baseball and basketball during those early years and was an accomplished middle infielder and pitcher.

He earned an associate’s degree from Beal Business College and his bachelor’s degree from Husson College. He earned money to pay for college by cutting pulpwood on the family property in Dixmont.

Ron joined the Maine Air National Guard in 1965 and spent a summer at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss., attending an aircraft radio repair school. He remained in the Guard, retiring in 1990 with 25 years of service.

In 1964, Ron took a part-time job as an Engineering Aide with the Maine Department of Transportation. This was the beginning of a long and storied career. Ron moved into computer programming and was responsible for the development of the Transportation Integrated Network Information System (TINIS) database, a unified system for managing highway, bridge, and accident records across the state. Ron was able to attend a number of annual traffic conferences at the University of North Carolina because of his work on TINIS, which he always enjoyed. Ron purchased a house in China in 1978, where he lived for the rest of his life.

Ron was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Archon Lodge #75 in Dixmont in 1967 and was an active member for 56 years. He was involved with the Anah Shrine, Scottish Rites Valleys of Augusta and Portland, and was an affiliated member of Dirigo Lodge 104 in Weeks Mills. Ron was instrumental in keeping the 11th Masonic District well informed for over 40 years with the Trestle Board, a monthly newsletter that he printed and mailed to Masons in Maine and across the U.S.

In February 1987 Ron met the love of his life, Helen (Downs) Emery, and her 2-year-old son, Mike. Ron was smitten, and he and Helen were married on Nov. 28, 1987. Their son, Mason, was born in October 1988. Family meant everything to Ron, and he cherished having a family to celebrate life with. He was a devoted husband and father, which led to Ron discovering a passion for Scouting. Ron became an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 479 when his boys joined the troop, and he continued to serve the troop with his friend, Scott Adams, long after their sons had moved on. Ron was a Scout leader for 28 years, during which time 44 Scouts earned their Eagle rank with Troop 479.

Ron was an active member of the South China Community Church for over 30 years. In addition to being the longtime assistant treasurer, he was renowned for often giving the children’s message, and he was a fixture in the kitchen at the church’s monthly turkey pie suppers. He also served as the regular master of ceremonies for the annual Scout Sunday at the China Baptist Church. His church activities showed the essence of Ron — a gentle soul who dearly loved people, and who especially cared for children as the most vulnerable members of the community. Ron’s own childhood was tough but filled with love, and he made it his mission to ensure that children who were his neighbors, extended family, or fellow congregants felt love in their life, and that they had at least one adult who saw them as people and genuinely cared about them.

In 2001, Ron received the David H. Stevens Award, MaineDOT’s highest honor. The Stevens Award is presented each year to a MaineDOT employee for their outstanding contribution to transportation excellence in the State of Maine. Though he had 37 years of service when he received this award, Ron was not nearly finished. He continued his service to the state until finally retiring in 2021 at the age of 75, having supported MaineDOT for 57 years.

Ron faced multiple medical maladies as he moved into retirement, culminating with his diagnosis of stage four esophageal cancer in early 2023. Despite this, he continued to serve the Scouts, the Masons, and his church in the capacities he had long been serving, continuing in some of these up until his final week. Illness could not dampen his spirit, and he took time to make lasting memories with his family, including welcoming his beloved first grandchild, Margaret, into the world in December 2023. Ron took nothing for granted and appreciated every moment he had on Earth.

Ron was predeceased by his parents; and by his brother, Ralph Emery.

He is survived by his wife, Helen (Downs) Emery; his son, Mike Emery and his partner Tekia Cox; his son, Mason Emery, his partner Tesse Rau, and their daughter Margaret; his brother, Jeff Emery and his wife Lee; his nephew, Ben Emery, his wife Kait, and their daughter Quinn; his sister-in-law, Song Emery and her partner Ben Wilcox; his niece Julie Emery; his nephew Alan Emery and his daughter, Amelia; his brother-in-law, Herb Downs and his wife Stacey, his sister-in-law, Liz Downs; his niece, Mary Dufour and her husband EJ; his sister-in-law, Carrie Doyon and her husband Eric, his brother-in-law, Harold Downs, his sister-in-law, Lorraine Downs; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Ron’s funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 at the South China Community Church, 246 Village St., South China. A private family burial with full military honors will be held at the Central Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

Arrangements and guidance are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

The family give their sincere gratitude to the staff at the Alfond Cancer Center, and to the nursing staff and doctors in 2 West at the Alfond Center for Health, who made Ron’s final days as peaceful and comfortable as possible for Ron and his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to

Bomazeen Old-Timers,

℅ Scott Adams,

P.O. Box 6134,

China Village, ME 04926-0134;

South China

Community Church,

246 Village St.,

South China, ME 04358; or

Kennebec Valley

Humane Society,

168 Leighton Rd.,

Augusta, ME 04330

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