Print
E-mail
Comment
Memorial held for man called hero for trying to save dogs
 |
| A memorial service honoring Robert “Bob” Emery was held at the San Jacinto Funeral Home and Memorial Parks, Oct. 22. |
By MATT HOLLIS
Robert “Bob” Emery was a man who came from Florida to Houston to help with the cleanup in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. His heart went out to those who were stricken by the storm, but his concern did not end there.
On Sept. 27, Emery, 54, saw some dogs stranded on I-10 East. As he attempted to rush out and save them, a passing motorcyclist struck and killed him. His story spread across the globe and animal lovers from all walks of life have designated Emery a hero who thought of others before himself.
At the San Jacinto Funeral Home and Memorial Parks, Oct. 22, his daughter Alaina Emery, 25, and several others came to pay their respects to the man who, in their eyes, died a hero.
“He did not expect or require a lot in life,” said the Rev. Bill Cole. “Bob’s work in Houston and on Earth is done. He was not thinking about putting himself in harm’s way. He saw a need and walked onto the freeway. He just thought, ‘I must do what I can.’”
Alaina has not seen her father in more than 20 years. She had attempted to find him over the years, but had no success. Hearing about Emery’s story, Kellye Nagata, a Clear Lake resident, conducted a search on the Internet and was able to locate Alaina in Pittsburgh.
Finally, Alaina was able to reunite with her father, maybe not in the way she would like, but with the comfort knowing that Emery will always be a hero in the hearts and minds of animal lovers everywhere.
“It astounds me that people myself and my father never met cared so much about us,” Alaina said. “You have restored my faith in humanity. I commend you because you are all heroes. You gave something to me and my family to be proud of forever and ever.”
Before Alaina was located, there were concerns that Emery would be buried in Harris County as a pauper. Many people stepped forward willing to donate funeral services and burial plots to ensure Emery would receive a proper burial, one befitting for a hero.
Nagata said it bothered her that no one could find Emery’s family members to let them know the sacrifice he made.
“I thought I could, so I did,” Nagata said. “I did not want Mr. Emery to be buried as a pauper.”
Emery reportedly had drug issues and apparently abandoned his family years ago, but those who call him a hero feel his last act on Earth shows that his hero status is well deserved.
“It was a beautiful act of kindness,” Cole said. “Heroes are not people who put on costumes. They walk up and see a need, have a burden and make a sacrifice. (Emery) made a beautiful outrageous sacrifice.”
Shelby Kibodeaux of Citizens for Animal Protection said Emery gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“He was a one-in-a-million person,” he said. “He died doing the absolute thing. He is a part of our family (of animal lovers).”
Alaina said she felt Emery just got “lost on the road to life” and might have been afraid to contact her since it had been so long since he had seen her.
“He might have felt guilty that he wasn’t there,” she said. “He might have thought I would hate him. I am sad, but comforted. I am OK.”
The owners of the dogs Emery attempted to rescue came to the service and expressed gratitude to Alaina for her father’s sacrifice.
“It is amazing,” said one owner, who only wished to be identified as Jackie. “I am sorry it happened the way it did, but maybe it was supposed to happen.”
One of the dogs suffered a broken paw and it could cost up to $2,000 in medical expenses.
Many people have stepped forward to make sure Emery’s final act will not be forgotten. Cheryl Lang of No Paws Left Behind helped to spearhead a $2,000 scholarship set up in Emery’s memory at the Veterinary Paramedic program at Houston Community College Northwest in Katy.
Stan James, funeral director for San Jacinto Funeral Home and Memorial Parks, provided the funeral services free of charge. The Flower Connection on Aldine in Houston donated flowers for the service.
On Sept. 27, Emery, 54, saw some dogs stranded on I-10 East. As he attempted to rush out and save them, a passing motorcyclist struck and killed him. His story spread across the globe and animal lovers from all walks of life have designated Emery a hero who thought of others before himself.
At the San Jacinto Funeral Home and Memorial Parks, Oct. 22, his daughter Alaina Emery, 25, and several others came to pay their respects to the man who, in their eyes, died a hero.
“He did not expect or require a lot in life,” said the Rev. Bill Cole. “Bob’s work in Houston and on Earth is done. He was not thinking about putting himself in harm’s way. He saw a need and walked onto the freeway. He just thought, ‘I must do what I can.’”
Alaina has not seen her father in more than 20 years. She had attempted to find him over the years, but had no success. Hearing about Emery’s story, Kellye Nagata, a Clear Lake resident, conducted a search on the Internet and was able to locate Alaina in Pittsburgh.
Finally, Alaina was able to reunite with her father, maybe not in the way she would like, but with the comfort knowing that Emery will always be a hero in the hearts and minds of animal lovers everywhere.
“It astounds me that people myself and my father never met cared so much about us,” Alaina said. “You have restored my faith in humanity. I commend you because you are all heroes. You gave something to me and my family to be proud of forever and ever.”
Before Alaina was located, there were concerns that Emery would be buried in Harris County as a pauper. Many people stepped forward willing to donate funeral services and burial plots to ensure Emery would receive a proper burial, one befitting for a hero.
Nagata said it bothered her that no one could find Emery’s family members to let them know the sacrifice he made.
“I thought I could, so I did,” Nagata said. “I did not want Mr. Emery to be buried as a pauper.”
Emery reportedly had drug issues and apparently abandoned his family years ago, but those who call him a hero feel his last act on Earth shows that his hero status is well deserved.
“It was a beautiful act of kindness,” Cole said. “Heroes are not people who put on costumes. They walk up and see a need, have a burden and make a sacrifice. (Emery) made a beautiful outrageous sacrifice.”
Shelby Kibodeaux of Citizens for Animal Protection said Emery gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“He was a one-in-a-million person,” he said. “He died doing the absolute thing. He is a part of our family (of animal lovers).”
Alaina said she felt Emery just got “lost on the road to life” and might have been afraid to contact her since it had been so long since he had seen her.
“He might have felt guilty that he wasn’t there,” she said. “He might have thought I would hate him. I am sad, but comforted. I am OK.”
The owners of the dogs Emery attempted to rescue came to the service and expressed gratitude to Alaina for her father’s sacrifice.
“It is amazing,” said one owner, who only wished to be identified as Jackie. “I am sorry it happened the way it did, but maybe it was supposed to happen.”
One of the dogs suffered a broken paw and it could cost up to $2,000 in medical expenses.
Many people have stepped forward to make sure Emery’s final act will not be forgotten. Cheryl Lang of No Paws Left Behind helped to spearhead a $2,000 scholarship set up in Emery’s memory at the Veterinary Paramedic program at Houston Community College Northwest in Katy.
Stan James, funeral director for San Jacinto Funeral Home and Memorial Parks, provided the funeral services free of charge. The Flower Connection on Aldine in Houston donated flowers for the service.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. Comments to stories and articles on the Web site are not edited or pre-approved before appearing online. Readers posting comments are solely responsible for those comments. Comments must be germane to the story to which they apply. Online comments that are libelous, profane or personally attack another site participant can be reported as abuse using the link provided on each comment. Comments reported as abusive will be reviewed and may be removed from view, as will off-topic comments. BE CIVIL. Individuals continually posting abusive comments to the site may have their registrations revoked. |
