COLUMBIA, Mo. — Congressional candidate and former State Sen. Ed Emery passed away on August 6 after collapsing at a campaign event in Moberly a few days prior due to a heart episode.
On August 3, Emery was speaking at an event for the Randolph County Republican Women in Moberly when he collapsed and was taken to a hospital in Columbia. Ultimately, Emery passed away after three days in the hospital at the age of 71.
Gov. Mike Parson tweeted that Emery “leaves an enduring legacy in public service — he will be missed.” Parson and Emery had served together in both the Missouri House and Senate for several years.
Emery was born on May 25, 1950 in Nevada, Missouri into an agricultural family in Southwest Missouri. He attended Missouri S&T where he earned an engineering degree.
In the 80s, Emery made a career working as an executive for Texaco and then worked as an engineering consultant. He went on to have four children with his wife, Rebecca.
In 2003, Emery began serving in the Missouri House of Representatives for the 126th District. He was the chair of the House Utilities Committee and also served on the Job Creation, Children and Family, and Tax Reform committees.
Emery first ran for state senate in 2010 and was unsuccessful in winning a seat, but ran again in 2012 and was elected with 64% of the vote. During his time in the Missouri senate, Emery was chair of the Senate Government Reform committee and also served on a slew of other committees.
“There are so many things I could say about Senator Ed Emery,” Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden said. “But above all, he was a man of solid principle and unwavering faith. In addition, he was one of the most kind, most genuine people I have ever met — in or out of politics.
Emery was the first Republican to announce that he was running for Missouri’s 4th Congressional seat after Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler announced she was vacating the seat to run for U.S. Senate in 2022.
Emery is survived by his wife Rebecca and his four children Elizabeth, Samuel, Daniel and Paul. His funeral and memorial services were held this week in Nevada, Missouri.
