Farmington Loses Hope Emery, A Community Pillar

Eleanor Hope Emery, aptly known around town as Hope, was born in 1925, the youngest of Hilda Johnson Smith and Ernest Walker Smith’s eight children.  She grew up at Clatter Valley – the parcel of land where her father and his brother Herbert built their homes on Mountain Spring Road in Farmington.  Her father designed the layout of the second floor to accommodate their growing family and told the architect to fit the first floor under the second before leaving on a hunting trip in Canada. 

Hope’s father died within a year of her birth, leaving her mother to raise the children and manage the household.  An aunt by marriage described the Smith’s as a very close knit, somewhat shy family that stood out like a tribe of Tarzans among the white flannel, country club set to which they belonged.  Hope’s explanation was that her mother had no choice but to let the boys run wild – there were simply too many to manage.  Hope’s growing up memories were full of happy adventures spent mostly in the woods and fields in and around Clatter Valley.

Hope loved her two sisters and adored her five brothers.  She was willing to do anything to be part of the fun, even when that fun included running back to the house to fetch needle and thread for Herb, who’d sliced his leg open with an axe in the woods, and warned  her “don’t tell Ma.” On her return, Hope held the wound together while Herb sewed.  Another time, trying to keep up with her brother Dave she fell off a cliff, broke a few bones and had to wait while he ran for help. Then there was the time she enthusiastically climbed up on Herb’s back so they could jump off the chicken coop roof together — only to have him roll back and break her ankle.  (She delighted in having her hated Arctic boot cut off by her mother when they returned). 

This early life created Hope’s core:  A rough and tumble, adventuresome spirit who could listen like nobody’s business and who never said no to any invitation that promised adventure.

She nearly drowned swimming in the Snake River as a young adult and yet 30 years later, during a family rafting trip, was the first (and only ) volunteer to jump into the frigid and frightening Colorado River.  She took her brother Burges Smith (a WWII pilot) up on his offer to teach her to fly a Piper Cub (her Mother’s advice – fly low and slow), earning her own pilot’s license shortly after the war.  She was over 60 when she started playing soccer, and in her 70’s went by snowshoe into the wilds of Northern Quebec to live with the Cree Indians.

She graduated from Smith with a BA in History, and later earned a Masters degree in Social Work.  Shortly after this she married John L. Emery of Stoneboro, PA and somehow convinced him to have 5 kids (a compromise – she wanted 8 or 10, he wanted 2 at the most).  She worked part time until the youngest entered Kindergarten, then resumed her career full-time.  She made working, raising kids, and volunteering look easy and fun.  Hope said she never saw her work as separate from her life – she loved it all, and so it blended well.

She somehow also found time to start numerous Farmington organizations which thrive today:

• Services for the Elderly
• Farmington Village Cooperative Nursery School
• Friendly Visitor Program, for the elderly and shut-ins
• The Oral History Project to gather stories from the long-time residents of Farmington
• The Sounding Board, a program for troubled teens
• The Lookout Fund, providing startup funds for worthy Farmington projects

Of paramount importance to Hope were her family and the land she grew up on.  Her abiding love for both rooted her, defined her and gave shape to her life. Hope raised her children on sunrise picnics at the lookout, treks to the field to spot the woodcock dance at sunset, skinny dipping, and whenever possible, camping out under the stars.  She had a knack for finding four-leaf clovers and thought giving a garter snake to a new neighbor was the perfect house-warming present (“Every stone wall needs one!”).  Even the Smith Thanksgiving tradition combined land and family.  Since the 60’s the celebration is held in what is now called the Thanksgiving Field.  Several Smith families gather each year to sing hymns and eat dinner around a bonfire, regardless of the weather.  Hope’s children and grandchildren were surprised to learn from friends that not everyone eats Thanksgiving dinner outdoors.

Hope was an avid walker.  She walked with her mother, her children and most of her friends. Relationships developed and deepened along these treks, which shortened over time but continued up to within a few weeks of her death.  On these walks she was never  without a dog, and none of them were the leashed kind.  As development and leash laws curtailed some of the old paths, she just got creative. Friends learned quickly that cold, rain, sleet or ticks didn’t interfere.  Clad In her fur-collared WWII army coat and her LL Bean Boots, Hope was always ready to go.

Hope was also deeply connected to her church – the First Church of Christ Congregational on Main Street in Farmington where both of her grandfathers served as ministers.  She held many offices in her church,  including Moderator and Deacon.  Her kids grew up knowing where the family pew was and where the plaques commemorating their great-grandfathers hung.  Hope felt it was important to expose her children to church and religion, but never forced her religious views – which were pretty loose to begin with –on them.  At church she’d supply her brood with crayons to draw on the program (and once the pew itself) but they found it more fun (and surprisingly easy) to make her laugh by making mischief beneath said pew. 

Her last job was as social worker for the Farmington School system where her own experience and non-judgmental, practical style helped countless families navigate the trials of raising their children.  Whether it was through her career, volunteer work, or church activities, Hope was constantly using her incredible listening skills, patience, and practical advice to help people all around her.  She was happiest when helping others and she helped so many! 

She will be missed deeply by her five children, their families, and her many friends.

John & Valerie Emery, (Boise, Idaho)

Dave and Jenny Emery (North Granby, CT)

Kate Emery & Steve Silk (Farmington, CT)

Diana & Pete Hiza, (Collinsville, CT)

Bobbie Emery & Anne Foss, (Farmington, CT)

Hope died December 30, 2011 at the home she and her husband designed and built more than 50 years ago. A memorial service will be held at the First Church of Christ, Congregation on Main Street in Farmington February 4th at 1 p.m. followed by a reception at the Porter Memorial next door.