James Emerson, Emerson

Dr. James L. Emerson, D.D.S., 61, of Friendship Drive, New Concord, OH, died at his residence on October 27, 2003. He was born on January 24, 1942, in Miami, Florida to the late Helen V. (Lahm) and Ralph W. Emerson.

Jim graduated from Miami High School and later attended Rollins College where he earned bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Sociology. He graduated from the Ohio State University School of Dentistry in 1969 and went on to open a dental practice in Byesville, OH, in 1970. In 1984, Jim moved the practice to New Concord.

An avid sportsman all of his life, Jim's early years were spent in Miami, Florida, fishing, hunting, and playing sports. He played football and baseball at Miami. Jim's skill and dedication lead to a starting catcher position for the Rollins Tars and later a stint with the LA Dodgers' Rookies. Jim continued his interest in sports by coaching Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams and by supporting the John Glenn High School athletic teams. The John Glenn High School Baseball boosters recently honored him as a "Super Booster."

Jim cultivated his interest in bowhunting and served as the President of the Professional Bowhunter Society. He also became a talented bowyer, crafting both recurves and longbows, and sharing this knowledge with his boys. Having grown up on the Florida coast, fishing was in Jim's blood. He became a member of the Raleigh Salt Water Fishing Club, and was well known to many of the locals in Buxton, NC, where he was a member of several teams that competed in surf fishing tournaments on the Outer Banks. He also loved to fish on Seneca Lake in the summers with close friends and family.

Jim is survived by his wife, Carol (Turner) Emerson, to whom he was married 36 years, four children: Meri Linn Emerson, Jamie (Stacie) Emerson, Rob Emerson, and JD Emerson, and one grandson: Braeden James Emerson, and a brother: Richard L. Emerson of North Carolina.

The family will receive friends at Brown Chapel on the Muskingum College campus in New Concord, OH, on Thursday, October 30, 2003 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, where a short memorial celebration of his life will be held at 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Hospice of Guernsey, 9711 E. Pike, PO Box 1165, Cambridge, OH 43725

Arrangements are in charge of MCFARLAND AND SON FUNERAL HOME, 271 NORTH PARK AVENUE, WARREN, Ohio.