May 1, 1944 – December 30, 2023
Franklin – Emery Walter DeBeck, 79, died December 30, 2023, at an Ellsworth hospital. He was born on May 1, 1944, in Ellsworth, the son of Hayden Gerard and Margery Wilson (Emery) DeBeck.
Emery was a graduate of Ellsworth High School in 1962 and received his bachelor’s degree from Boston University, Boston, MA in 1966. He later attended Northeastern University, Boston, MA, where he received his master’s. He spent his career in Reading, Massachusetts, where he worked at the high school as a math teacher until his retirement after 34 years.
Emery’s passion was genealogy. He did it for his family as well as the community members in Franklin. Emery spent huge amounts of time getting birth, death, and parental information from obituaries and other sources to gather an impression of life in times past. He served as Treasurer of Franklin for several years, Treasurer of the Franklin Historical Society, and was an active board member of the Franklin Library.
He is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Carter of Franklin, and Jessie Mackenzie and husband, Roland, of Bowdoinham; a niece Erin Willey and husband, Shawn; four nephews, John Carter and wife, Mandi, Alec Mackenzie and wife, Abby, Daniel Mackenzie and wife, Jessica, and Nathan Mackenzie; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Jasmine, Damian, Josi, Molly, Kate, and Hayden.
Graveside Services will be held in the Spring at Bayview Cemetery, Franklin.
Those who desire may make contributions in Emery’s memory to the Franklin Historical Society, P.O. Box 317, Franklin, or Franklin Library, P.O. Box 202, Franklin, ME 04634. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin Street, Ellsworth. Condolences may be expressed at jordanfernald.com.
