September 2024

Michael Ray Emerick passed away Wednesday August 28, 2024 at his residence surrounded by family at the age of 77. Born on March 9, 1947 to Carlton L and Gathyl (Downing) Emerick in Bluffton, Ohio. He was a 1965 graduate of LaFayette Jackson High School. After high school Mike enlisted in the United States Army and served as an Aviation Specialist where he was an aircraft mechanic for 15 months in Vietnam. He worked mainly on Grumman 0V-1 Mowak’s which were used as military observation and attack aircraft. Mike always talked about how they could pick up images of a cigarette light from up in the sky. While in the army he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and an Army Commendation Badge. Honorably discharged in February of 1968, returning home, he then served a sheet metal apprenticeship at Hobart where he graduated from. Having many adventures throughout his life from sleeping on the floor of the cabin of a dirty old trapper (Eddie Bauer) to fist fights during his childhood with his lifelong friends at the Kenton Coon Dog Trials to the jungles of Vietnam. The rumors of his involvement in drunken bar fights at the Chandelle Bar and Grill in Beaverdam Ohio have been greatly exaggerated and are denied. On August 8, 1970 he married the love of his life Emily Anne Blair and they celebrated 54 years this year. In 1974 he bought a one-man shop Lima Sheet Metal. After expanding and expanding the shop on Jackson Street, the business was then moved to Bowman Road where they expanded again and are currently located. Mike and Anne celebrated 50 years of owning and running Lima Sheet Metal in July. Spending 20 years on the Allen East School board he assisted with the process of purchasing the ground and building the new Allen East School building, which consolidated the district to one location. For 40 years he was a 4-H advisor with the LaFayette Boys and Girls as welding advisor and had been actively involved with the