Houghton --- Medical missionary and world traveler, Dr.
Storer William Emmett, embarked on his final journey Friday, August 25,
2017. Storer, referring to himself as
Tody Will, was born on September 9, 1932 in Crystal, Maine, a son of the late
Stora and Elva Main Emmett. On September 1, 1956 in Old Town, Maine he married
Wilma Monroe, who survives.
When he was still a young boy, the family moved to Old Town,
Maine where Storer became very active in community and church life. He joined his first church choir at age 13.
High school accomplishments included being a track star,
playing on the football team (resulting in becoming a champion church supper
eater for necessary weight gain), participating as a valued member of the
debate club, playing cello in the orchestra, and earning the top academic honor
of his high school class. His greatest high school accomplishment, however, was
courting his childhood sweetheart and bride to be, Wilma Monroe.
Storer was saved at a young age and felt God’s call to
medical missions as a teen. With this
focus in mind, he worked toward attending a good medical school and was
accepted to Johns Hopkins in 1954 following his bachelor degree work at the
University of Maine.
After completing advanced training in medicine and surgery,
Storer and Wilma, along with their daughter, Bethany, left on their first
missionary voyage to work at a mission hospital in Southern Rhodesia during the
fall of 1960. Dr. Emmett also served as
a medical officer for the government of Southern Rhodesia. Soon after arriving in Rhodesia, Storer was
ordained by the Reformed Baptist Alliance of Canada to enhance his
opportunities to administer to not only physical needs but also spiritual
needs.The next missionary voyage took Storer, Wilma, and their
four children to Haiti in August 1968.
He worked as a doctor and frequently performed emergency surgeries at
the Wesleyan hospitals throughout Haiti. His other ministries included
traveling and preaching the gospel to churches all over the country.
Dr. Emmett journeyed next to Houghton, NY where he spent 13
years as a family practitioner with the Northern Allegany Medical Group. During this time he also served as the
physician for Houghton College. Always
having a heart for missions, Storer, soon after arriving, established the
Houghton Medical and Dental team returning to serve the people of rural Haiti
on short term mission trips.
In 1988, Storer and Wilma, traveled to Sierra Leone on their
third missionary journey. Dr. Emmett
worked at the Kamakwie Hospital and ministered to the physical and spiritual
needs of the people there for three years. Storer’s final missionary journey as
a full time worker for Wesleyan World Missions was to Zambia near Victoria
Falls coming almost full circle to where he began his medical mission work.
During retirement, Dr. and Mrs. Emmett spent several months
at a time serving in Haiti, Zambia, or Sierra Leone as needed. Storer also became the director of the
Wesleyan Medical Fellowship to encourage and increase awareness of medical
missions. His quarterly newsletters were
always highly anticipated and enjoyed.
In appreciation of his 16 years as director, the Wesleyan Church
presented Dr. and Mrs. Emmett with a trip to Myanmar where he was able to visit
and participate in yet another medical clinic for which he was instrumental in
founding.
One of Dr. Emmett’s great loves was gardening. He had a garden and planted a tree everywhere
he lived. Storer loved the beauty
(despite his color blindness) and creative expression afforded by the
hobby. This past summer saw hours of
enjoyment of his flower garden at his new and final home in Cooperstown,
NY.
Surviving in addition to his wife are their children,
Bethany (Bob) Harter, Esther (Will)
Slauson, Bill (Sandy) Emmett and Faith (John) Fisk; his grandchildren, Brittany
Harter (Ben) Keith, William Slauson, Wesley Slauson, Kendra (Andrew)
Emmett-Goldwasser, Rebekah (Philip Tumbaga) Harter, Kira Emmett (Tyler) Logan,
Kasey Emmett, Christianna Fisk and Alexi Fisk;
great grandchildren Caleb Keith and Seth Keith; nieces Cathy Emmett (Joe) Stewart, Stephanie
Emmett (Johann) Paschalis, and nephew Joshua (Angie) Emmett and cousins.
Family and friends may gather from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on
Saturday, September 2, 2017 at the Kopler- Williams Funeral Home, 21 N. Genesee
Street, Fillmore. A funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 3,
2017 at the Houghton Wesleyan Church. Rev. Dr. Wesley Oden will officiate.
Burial will be in Mount Pleasant cemetery, Houghton.
Memorial if desired to: Wesleyan World Missions.
