Long-time Bexley resident Emerson Lee Caryer, 84, died recently at his South Drexel home, where he had lived since 1952.

He was part of a group dubbed by some residents as the "Bexley String Players." The group often played just around the corner from his house at Radio Café, 2254 E. Main St. Emerson, for more than two years, was a spoon-playing musician with the group.

Born and raised in Bexley, Emerson was remembered by his son Lee for his love of the Bexley community and for the musicians, who have become a Bexley tradition.

Lee Emerson recalled a time that showed his father’s strong roots in Bexley. Following his career as an insurance actuary for the state of Ohio, his father held a similar position with the state of Kentucky, where he worked for 15 years. Rather than move from Bexley – he had no intention of selling the house, Lee Emerson said - he commuted.

Another story with a humorous bent occurred when Emerson was a Bexley High School student. He and his future wife, the late Elizabeth Thompson Caryer, both attended Bexley and lived on small streets parallel to each other. Caryer was working on the family’s roof when he lost his balance, slid down, causing the seat of his pants to bum out while his classmates and childhood sweetheart Elizabeth watched.

An important part of his life was the band, founded by Bexley’ s Ray Pauken and others. For Emerson Lee Caryer, playing and being with the group was a special time, his son said.

Last spring, Emerson Caryer spent time in the hospital and had a month’s stay at an extended-care facility, where members of the string group visited him.

The group, which has as many as 20 members, not all of whom are together at one time, came out to see Caryer, his son said. They played for an hour.

"It took his energy, but it was an energizing time for him," said Lee Emerson. "He had been looking forward to the visit for weeks."

On the day he died, the Bexley string group visited him at his home. In a weakened state, Caryer was able to mouth the words to a verse of his favorite song, "Frankie and Johnny," Pauken said. He died about 10 hours later.

After his death, the group played several songs on the driveway by Emerson Caryer’s house. It was a celebration of his life, Lee Caryer said.

Pauken, one of the founding group members, and about four others recently talked about Caryer and the band at Radio Café.

"We have avoided giving ourselves a name because of our informality, which we want to maintain," Pauken said. "Otherwise, if we had a name, we’d have to live up to that name."

The band’s policy is not to ask for money. "Rather, we ask for food," Pauken said.

In addition to regularly getting together to play at Radio Café on Tuesday nights and Friday mornings, members have been playing at Graeter’s Ice Cream on Wednesday nights and the farmers market outside Bexley City Hall on Saturday mornings.

Members talked about Emerson Caryer with fondness. "He sang that verse of ‘Frankie and Johnny’ at out get-togethers with great gusto," Pauken said.

Bexley Mayor David Madison said that Emerson was an outstanding individual who loved Bexley and at one time drove the mayor’s car during Fourth of July celebrations.

In addition to Lee, Emerson is survived by two daughters, Peg Antle, a sixth-grade teacher at Cassingham Elementary; Pat Bembry, who lives in Georgia; and four grandchildren. He also has a sister, Jean Lovejoy, who lives in California.