Skowhegan- Emery L. Cronkite Jr., 83, passed away on December 16, 2011 with his loving family by his side. He was born in Brunswick, ME on October 26, 1928; a son of the late Emery L. Cronkite Sr. and Lucy (Arsenault) Cronkite and moved to Portland, ME at an early age. He attended school in Portland, and later married Barbara Corliss in December of 1949; together they had 6 children. Emery also graduated with honors from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago in 1949, he then received his GED Diploma in Calais, ME in 1972. Emery had worked as a steam boiler fireman, x-ray service technician and elevator mechanic, and worked as an electrician at Maine Medical Center, Georgia Pacific Paper Mill in Woodland for many years, and went to work at Madison Paper as an Electrical Instrument Supervisor in 1981 and retired in February of 1995. He also volunteered at the Somerset Humane Animal Shelter from December 2000 to July 2006. He was predeceased by his parents, his loving wife Barbara in October of 2000, a brother Neil Frederick Cronkite. He is survived by his 6 loving children; Kathleen Ricker of Bangor, Cynthia Cronkite of Meriden, CT, Bruce Cronkite of Jacksonville, NC, Roxanne Allen of Skowhegan, Annette Corliss of Westbrook, Stephen Cronkite, his sweetheart Rose, 12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild, a brother Richard Owen of Rochester, NY, a sister Janice Audrey Laughlin of W. Buxton, and his beloved furry son Scooter. A visitation will be held at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 20 from 12 noon to 2 pm, with the funeral following at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent in his memory to the Somerset Humane Society or to the Somerset Health Reach and Hospice. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Somerset Hospice for all the love and care given to Emery and his family. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home 183 Madison Ave. Skowhegan, ME 04976. 207-474-3357.