Phillip Lee Emerson

02/07/1931 - 02/19/2011

EMERSON, Phillip Lee "Joe"

Phillip Lee Emerson was born February 7, 1931 in Wilbur, Washington to Guy Benjamin and Bertha Lee (Walling) Emerson. He died of heart failure related to leukemia at 80 years of age on February 19th, 2011, in Davenport, WA. Mr. Emerson had lived for the last 15 years near to Fruitland, Washington, close to his earliest childhood home.

Phillip served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1958, as a radioman stationed in Germany with the 6912th Radio Squadron Mobile. He maintained an amateur radio license and was an avid hobbyist. He enjoyed playing music with family, talking about old times, and reading a wide variety of literature.

Phillip was married to Susan Vince on March 1, 1968 in Rome, Italy, with whom he had three children. Susan Vince preceded him in death in 1998, as did his oldest son, Paul Raymond in 2004. Phillip L. Emerson is survived by his youngest sons, Lawrence Dylan and Phillip Haden Emerson, and by two grandchildren.

Phillip received a Bachelor of Arts and Doctoral degrees, both in psychology, from Washington State University, in Pullman. Dr. Emerson was a professor of psychology at Cleveland State University, in Cleveland, Ohio, for most of his career, until 1995. His research interests were in statistical models in the study of perception. He was pleased to retire in order to return to be with his childhood friends and family near to the Na-bor-lee campground, close to Fruitland. "Joe", as he was known by family and friends, was famous for his dry sense of humor and will be dearly missed.

There will be a memorial service for Phillip L. Emerson on Saturday, March 5th, 2011, in Fruitland, WA, at the "Enterprise Grange Hall", at 11 am.