Ray E. “Jake” Emig, 79, of Selbyville, DE and formerly of Shippensburg, PA, went to meet the Lord on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, DE. Born on August 11, 1932 in York, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late John and Mazie (Shearer) Emig of York, PA.

Jake and his wife Linda have lived in the Selbyville area for the last 26 years and it is where he and she began their dream of opening a barbeque restaurant. Jake’s love of “bar-b-que” led him to the Eastern Shore in January 1987 and in May 1987 he and Linda opened Em-Ing’s Bar-B-Que, with Jake’s signature secret recipe chicken, on Wicomico Street in Ocean City, MD. The operation was moved to Bishopville, MD (corner of US Route 113 and Maryland Route 610) the next year. Over the years, their love of fundraising, assisted many organizations, churches and social groups meet their goals. Jake experienced much satisfaction from helping others and lived his life for the people around him.

Jake was an entrepreneur his entire life. He was a musician, worked for the former Allen Dairy Farms, operated a small Christmas tree farm and made a career in bovine podiatry (cow hoof trimming). He developed equipment, served as a mentor and trained individuals in the trade of bovine foot health. He was an active member of the dairy industry, judging many cattle shows at community and state fairs. He was a sought after cattle showman during his early years and showed prize winning cattle all over the United States and around the world. Jake was awarded the Henry Thomas Memorial Award for showmanship in 1986 at the Dairymen Eastern National Dairy Show in Harrisburg, PA.

Jake was a member of the Franklin County Holstein Club, Franklin County, PA and an active member of the National, Pennsylvania, and Maryland Holstein Associations. He was a member of the Maryland Dairy Shrine, a major contributor to the Eastern Shore American Red Cross and an active member of Wilson United Methodist Church in Bishopville, Maryland. Jake is survived by his wife of 35 years Linda L. (Mohn); two sons, Michael Ray Emig of Mechanicsburg, PA and William Joseph Emig of Gardners, PA; two daughters, Robin Beth Emig of Millsboro, DE and Cindy Lou Ambrose of Marysville, PA; two step-children, Bradley Cornman of Newburg, PA and Anita Weaver of Shippensburg, PA; one sister Esther Jacoby of York, PA; ten grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Jake was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.

A memorial service for Jake will be held on Sunday July 1, 2012 at 3:30 pm at Wilson United Methodist Church in Bishopville, MD.

A second memorial service will be held on Saturday July 21, 2012 at 11 am at Codorus Church of the Brethren, 1129 Dunkard Valley Road, Dallastown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wilson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 375, Bishopville, MD 21813 or Peninsula Community Church, 38574 Cypress Road, Selbyville, DE 19975 or American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, 100 W. 10th Street, Suite 501, Wilmington, DE 19801.