Emily Diane Rey

Emily Diane Rey

Sept. 13, 1979 ~ July 23, 2022

Emily Diane Rey, loving daughter, sister and “Auntie Em,” surrendered her mortal body and returned to her heavenly home the morning of Saturday, July 23, 2022.  At the time of her passing she was in her group home in Provo, Utah, surrounded by her roommates and Chrysalis staff who supported and loved Emily.  The Friday evening preceding her passing Emily was alert enough to enjoy a meal consisting of two scoops of ice cream and tastes of pot roast and potatoes, in that order, while laughing with her roommates, her perfect final meal.

Emily was born on September 13, 1979 in Murray, Utah.  As a sign of the many challenges she would face during her life, within 48 hours of her birth, Emily had emergency heart surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital, and, in the many weeks of hospital stay which followed, a cardiac arrest, seizures and heart failure.  For the balance of her life Emily experienced heart and circulation problems, cognitive impairment, and autism.

Fortunately, Emily was born into a loving family, including her grandmother and grandfather Duckworth, who embraced and supported Emily.  With patience and dedication, her family, particularly her mother Diane, worked with teachers, doctors, and other specialists to provide opportunities for Emily to grow and develop.  Loving support was also provided by Emily’s friends, teachers, and leaders in the Kaysville 2^nd Ward.  Emily learned to read, write beautifully, play the piano and she developed socially.  She graduated from Davis High School and South Valley.

After completing her education, Emily was able to live semi-independently in group homes with roommates and supportive staff.  For the last 20 years Emily has lived a happy life in group homes in Provo, while working at the Provo Mission Training Center.  For much of that time Emily has enjoyed the companionship of her dear friend and roommate Kim Pulley, also a Davis High graduate.

Emily and her family are indebted to the Chrysalis organization (particularly Ryan Christensen) which manages her group home, her roommates (Kim Pulley, Tiaza Warden, Megan Hein, and Krista Larsen), numerous dedicated staff over the years, including her two most recent house managers Danae Moses and Hannah Bohn, her many friends at Chrysalis-sponsored group homes, her nurses (particularly, Angela Kincaid), doctors and members of the Provo Parkway 5^th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Keri Zeyer, Emily’s long-time visiting teacher/minister.

Emily has taught many lessons to her family, friends, and acquaintances; we share some of them:

-As a young girl, Emily demonstrated the peace to be found in simple things, such as swinging, rocking, and twirling.

-Throughout her life, Emily displayed the joy one can find in receiving a crisp one-dollar bill.

-Those providing unconditional love, dedication and service to Emily learned of the many blessings received by the giver, and

-Perhaps most important, Emily taught us that being different does not mean being less.

Emily loved her family heritage (the Duckworth, Rey and King families), her cat Nala, attending (and sometimes appearing to sleep through) church meetings, eating at restaurants, her job at the MTC, sharing her remarkable ability to remember the birthdays of family members and friends, playing “Old Maid”, making phone calls to family members and friends, sending thank you cards, shopping trips with her roommates and staff (Emily loved purses, colorful clothes, DI and costume jewelry), fingernail polish (her family recently found over 300 bottles, most unopened, in her closet), going to movies, family activities, riding the front-runner to spend weekends with her dad and Carla, receiving gifts and cards, anything SUPERMAN and, most of all, her birthdays (anticipated for months, usually a 3-day event).

Emily is survived by her mother Diane D. Swenson (Hal), her father Robert K. Rey (Carla), her sisters, Alysa Smith (Matt), Cherilyn Church and Ashley Egan (Shawn), and her nephews and nieces, Dallin Smith, Alexis Tullis (Mason), Ethan Smith, Sarah Smith, London Church, Brighton Church, Kensington Church, and Seras Egan.  She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Harry and Carol Duckworth and Alvino and Luise Rey.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crestwood Stake Center, 855 East Mutton Hollow Road, Kaysville, Utah.  Friends may visit with Emily’s family Friday from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the Stake Center prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Chrysalis in Emily’s name, 1507 South 180 East, Provo, Utah 84606

Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main Street, Kaysville, Utah.

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