George Meade Emory

George Meade EMORY George Meade Emory, 79, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on October 8, 2010. He was born in Seattle to prominent lawyer Frederick DeWolfe Emory and Marion Burton Emory on February 26, 1931. He was proud of his Emory ancestry, tracing his lineage in this country to the mid-seventeenth century Eastern Shore of Maryland, and to the illustrious Benjamin Franklin. He was a third generation Seattleite, and a third generation lawyer in this city who loved everything about the Pacific Northwest. He attended Lowell Elementary in Seattle, graduating from Garfield High School in 1949. After attending the University of Washington, he earned B.A. and LL.B. degrees from George Washington University and its law school. In 1963 he earned a Master's degree in Tax Law from Boston University School of Law. Meade enjoyed a long legal career in the federal government, private practice, and academia. His government service began with a position as a capital cop and included staff work for the Congressional Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, and as Assistant to the Commissioner of the IRS. His early teaching positions included the Universities of Iowa and California (at Davis). For many years he served as a visiting professor at the law schools of Duke University, UCLA, Southern Methodist University, the Universities of Pennsylvania and Nebraska, Northwestern University, Tulane and the University of Iowa. In Seattle, he was associated with the law firms of LeSourd & Patten and Lane Powell. Meade assumed Emeritus Professor status when he retired from the University of Washington School of Law faculty in 2004, having served as the founding director of that school's Graduate School Program in Taxation. Meade was long active behind the scenes in Democratic politics, having first been attracted when Senator Warren Magnuson appointed him to several "patronage" jobs in Washington, DC during his university years. He was always vitally interested in and informed about politics on the national and local levels. He was an acknowledged expert in on taxation policy and practice and was often heard to quote: "Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society" - a maxim in which he heartily believed. Meade also cultivated many of the trappings and interests of a professor. His staple wardrobe included a bow tie, fedora, highwater trousers, loafers and a fountain pen or two. Meade was a prolific writer and frequent contributor to the Journal of Taxation, and other legal publications, as well as local and national newspapers. He was an avid book collector, especially books about Western Americana and the Pacific Northwest and also cherished opera, poetry and literature. Meade was beloved and respected by his many students over the years and was always delighted to hear about their recent accomplishments. He was instrumental in the creation of the Seattle Chamber Music Festival and a member of the Seattle Public Library Board, the University of Washington Friends of the Libraries, and the Washington Bar Association. Meade was a communicant of St. Mark's Cathedral and a member of the University Club, Rainier Club, Seattle Tennis Club, Cosmos Club, and the Sons of the Revolution. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Deborah Carley Emory, daughter Ann Hemsley Emory and her partner Robert John Ryan, son Campbell Dallas Emory III and his partner Rita Ann Leary, daughter Elizabeth Carley Emory, son in law, Andrew Propst, and granddaughters Lillian Carley Propst and Clara Emory Propst. Meade is also survived by his brother F. DeWolfe Emory and his wife, Geraldine Emory, many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Burton Emory and cousin C. K. Poe Fratt. Meade would have liked to express deep gratitude to the people of Bayview Manor in Seattle, who cared for him daily and whom he truly appreciated, as well as the courageous people from Providence Hospice of Seattle, who eased his transition and comforted his family during this time. A memorial service celebrating Meade's life will be held on Friday, October 15, 2010 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle at 2:00 pm. Remembrances may be made to: Providence Hospice of Seattle or the Alzheimer's Association.