My first memory of Emily starts with us sitting on the floor toe-to-toe at the cabin, our shirts pulled over our bent knees, likely on New Year's Eve in the late 90s. It makes me happy to think of how little we were, the great friendship we had in store, and how much she would come to mean to me.

Emily was only six months older than me, but when we were young she always seemed to know more about what to wear, what music to listen to, and the world generally. I never stopped admiring Emily for being smart and cool, but over the years she became an important friend and confidant to me. From catch-ups at Lake Powell to long phone calls in college while Emily studied abroad and visits to DC and NYC in our twenties, Emily was a constant in my life. On many occasions, she made me feel less alone and more understood. When she wanted to be, she was the funniest person in the room, and to this day I can hear her quoting other people/Ron Swanson/her grandpa with perfect imitation.

No matter how long it had been since I’d last seen Em, we always picked up right where we left off, without any formality or distance in the conversation. I would like to think that was because we started our friendship as little girls sitting on the floor of the cabin nearly three decades ago. I wish I could hear her say “hi Jules” one more time. Miss you always; love you forever, Em.

Em Sue - Thank you for the years of friendship, laughter, TV quotes, funny stories, spot-on impressions, time spent on the lake, and most recently for our stint as roomies at Casa Crowder last winter. I feel deeply lucky to have shared the time we did this past year, and now the memories of our movie nights with popcorn, candy, and diet coke with the good ice are even sweeter. Thank you for being so open and honest with me about the good times and the bad and for allowing me to share what was going on in my life, too. I really valued having that one-on-one time with you at this stage in our lives and I appreciated getting to chat about our similarities. Thank you for inspiring me with your fearless move to Paris and French-speaking internship. I thought you were the coolest - and I’d like to think you paved the way for me to take the leap and move there myself a few years later. I loved that you and I had that French connection.

The very best memories of my life are of the 6 of us girls at Powell every year. It’ll always be the 6 of us, no matter what. Love you, Em!

Dearest Alisyn, Dave, Matt, Sam and Eliza,

Please know you are so loved by us. We are absolutely heartbroken for all of you.

We loved Emily too! She was funny, lively, honest, and fun to talk with. Our kids really enjoyed her and her sass for life.

We are sending you so much love and will be holding you all up in our prayers. We are praying that God’s deep and mysterious presence and comfort, peace that passes all understanding, will be with you in the days ahead.

With much love,

Lisa and Tom Carhart

I have known and loved Emily since she was 3, and I've loved watching her grow up.  At church, I was her primary teacher when she was 7 and 8, and later in young women's I was her youth advisor and then her young women's president.  I've cheered for her when she went off to college, and was so proud of her as she completed the accounting program at BYU.   

I've also felt so loved by her as she cheered on my professional successes.  Once after a speech I gave, Emily tweeted, "Liz Wiseman is my spirit animal."  I had to look up what it meant, but I've long held this sentiment close to my heart.   I've loved being  part of her fan club.  I've long admired how opening she shared her struggles.  

I will always love Emily.  My heart has been breaking at her passing and for her family and the rest of us who love her and will miss her.  But, I take comfort in knowing she is surrounded in God's love right now.  Truly, God be with you 'til we meet again, dear Emily.   -- your friend and spirit animal. 

My dear Emily Sue,

You are my longest most consistent friend, tied to the most photos & memories I have with any other friend in my life. Your family has been like family to us for 27-ish years, since you and I entered preschool together & began ballet classes (quitting jazz because we didn’t like the sexy-walk 😂) and the tradition of “teddy bear teas” with our moms.

Our school days continued at Pinewood for 1st-8th grade. These precious times were consumed with endless musical performances, playdates & sleepovers making videos with our siblings, birthday parties, crushing on boys, carpooling when you lived down the street from us, a family hawaii trip where we met Magic Johnson in the elevator, multiple family ski trips to Deer Valley- you found much amusement in my family’s neon onesie snow suits, classes & extracurriculars together, getting our ears pierced together when we were 12 (my mom surrendered & let me go at 11 1/2 since you were 6 months older 😉), getting ready for school dances, and so much more. Your cell phone number is one of the few I have memorized. Though you changed schools for high school, we continued inviting each other to our school events + endured our early morning scripture study church class together all four years. Our families remained intertwined as we stayed in the same church congregation our whole lives.

We were so excited for the BYU dorms. Living in different dorms enabled us to merge our friend groups, and we filled our time with soda runs, football games, dance parties, taking general ed classes together- even fitting in a ski class! I left on my 18 month church mission, and you consistently emailed me with support. You got us an apartment together for when I returned home and even put my class schedule together for me. You introduced me to all your new friends, we took a sewing class together which was way more work than we anticipated, and right away you approved of Calvin when we started dating. Your ambitious drive led you to conquering the accounting program. You were one of my bridesmaids & were never afraid to come hang out as our 3rd wheel ❤️

My dad took his life in 2019, two months before our BYU graduation. You were my sister-friend who consistently checked in on my family & me, always lending a listening and empathetic ear. We were truly authentic with one another and talked about real, hard things. You knew and loved my dad as he was another father figure to you. But you also probably had an extra special place in your heart for him because you probably unfortunately understood the mental & emotional inner turmoil he had experienced throughout his life.

You moved to New York, and I came back to the Bay Area to live near your parents/ my mom again. You and your family continued to be by my family’s side- at all the best and lowest of times. You watched us mourn the loss of my dad but also witnessed us find strength in being able to feel peace & joy despite our heart ache and grief that never fully goes away.

You moved back home nearly two years ago, and I know it was the toughest of times for you. I felt sorrow and pain in watching your unhappiness consume you, but I also watched you in awe as you actively battled and tried to understand the inner demons you’ve had to fight throughout your life. You loved on our baby Grace & you danced the night away alongside your family at Becca’s wedding on August 30th, my last moments with you which will always make me smile.

Your family loves you so much. My family and I love you so much. You are so loved & will never be forgotten. It’s so unfair that life has dealt you, my dad, and too many others in this world some painful cards. But the feeling that continues to come over me is what a blessing it is knowing that both of you are at peace now, free of any and all earthly pains. Your family will see you & embrace you again after this life. Though your passing is extremely painful and devastating for your loved ones, I’m so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that will continue to heal and strengthen your family and others as they grieve the heartache of losing you & forever missing you. My family will always be here for your family, lifting them up, as will many others, giving them support when needed. May you be their angel, watching over them and continuing to love them from afar 🤍🕊️ love, your Lindsay Lou!