Emily Jeanne Wyman

Some people live long lives, scattered here and there with triumphs and achievements. Others, like Emily Jeanne Wyman, are granted a short time on earth, but are able to fill every day with energy, life and love. She was a young lady with a heart for others, aspiring to be a nurse and desiring to help those around her in any way she could. With a heart full of love and a spirit that inspired smiles everywhere, Emily was a blessing in the lives of everyone who knew her.

In 1982, ET: The Extra Terrestrial would make it big at the box office and Michael Jackson's Thriller would become the biggest selling album of all time. But just before these events made their way into pop culture history, Larry Wyman, Jr. and his wife, Carey (Peterson), of Clare, Michigan, welcomed the birth of their beautiful daughter, Emily Jeanne, on the sunny summer day of August 23, 1982. From her very first breath of life, little Emily brought sheer delight to everyone in her family. It didn't take long before she had all the men in her family wrapped around her little finger. Aside from being a big "Daddy's girl", Emily was doted on by her Grandpa Paul, who shared his donut holes with her and took her for rides on his tractor. He affectionately called her "toots." Yet, after some of her schmoozing, Emily could get just about anything from her Uncles Paul and Randy. She loved her family so much that whenever someone came to visit, Emily would hide their shoes so they couldn't leave.

Emily grew up in the rural community of Clare, where her father and grandfather were respected businessmen as owners of the Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. As a little girl, Emily was a regular fixture at the office since she went to work with her Dad every day. She loved to be Daddy's little helper and Grandpa Wyman always let her do whatever she wanted in his office, a privilege no one else was extended. When Emily was eighteen months old, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes, which was near fatal. Her mother worked for Dr. Shurlow and his wife, Mary Ann, and Emily grew close to them over the years, almost like second parents. Her mom learned to cook great meals that were safe for Emily to eat, and she always liked to make spritz cookies with her Dad. Her all time favorite dinner was goulash with raspberry Jello and ballard biscuits.

Aside from her immediate family, Emily warmed the hearts of many of the people in their community. When she was in the grocery store and the clerk offered her a piece of candy, Emily simply replied, "No thank you, candy will make me sick." After that, they began stocking sugar free candy or fruit just for her. On Halloween, she was inundated with fruit baskets from her "adopted" grandparents, aunts and uncles in the community. Emily never let her diabetes disable her or stop her from achieving her goals. When she was little, she took dance lessons and was adamant about her entire family being present at her recitals. Emily attended Clare Public Schools, where she played basketball in middle school and saxophone in both marching and concert band throughout her academic career.

Up until the age of seven, Emily enjoyed the life of an only child. Then, on February 27, 1990, she became big sister to her brother, Nicholas Lawrence, and boy was she delighted. She took her role quite seriously and "mothered" him, taking him everywhere she went and being his number one fan as well as his protector. Despite the age difference, they were always close and best of friends. After Emily graduated from Clare High School in 2001, she began attending Central Michigan University, but later transferred to Saginaw Valley State University to pursue a nursing degree. As she was so compassionately cared for during her growing up years, Emily wanted to give the same wonderful care to others.

In addition to Emily's sharp wit and bright smile, she also bore the mark of a typical adolescent girl. She absolutely, without a doubt loved to shop. A true shopaholic, Emily didn't need a reason to shop and enjoyed shopping for others rather than herself. With this in mind, it was only natural that Emily's favorite time of the year was Christmas, the biggest shopping day of the year. She loved decorating the house to look festive, but her greatest joy was watching her family open her carefully wrapped gifts. The Wymans have a special family tradition in which they choose a needy family to buy gifts for each year. Then, on Christmas Eve, after the candlelight service at church, they anonymously leave them on their doorstep and run after ringing the bell. Emily looked forward to this tradition every year.

On Thanksgiving Day of 2002, Emily's life took a new and exciting direction when she was introduced to Chris McNett through some mutual friends. From the moment their eyes met, they knew they were in love. From then on, not a day went by without them seeing or talking to each other. Another memorable day for Emily was August 17, 2003, the day Chris proposed to her at their favorite vacation spot in Sleeping Bear Dunes. A true gentleman, Chris had nervously asked her father for her hand in marriage, but he later admitted he was more nervous about getting her brother Nick's approval. Emily could hardly wait for their wedding, set for June 17, 2006. She was planning every detail for this day and had stacks of bridal magazines in her room to guide her. Emily's life now centered around her wedding, which of course, meant lots of shopping trips, and willingly Chris and Nick were often dragged along. Because of all this hoopla, Emily's father affectionately referred to her as "Bridezilla", but deep down he knew this was going to be a special, yet emotional day for him too.

Being well-liked by almost everyone who knew her, Emily made friends of every age. One winter, Emily and Nick went to Daytona Beach to visit their Grandma and Grandpa Wyman, which left indelible memories with them all. They loved being doted on by their grandparents in front of their friends, and funnier yet, was watching Grandpa tease Grandma. Emily would always laugh hysterically when recalling this trip. Although Chris and their wedding plans took up much of her time, Emily still found time to be in the kitchen baking and making fudge, especially from Aunt Sally's recipe. Fortunately for Chris, he was usually the recipient of her delicious treats. She also began learning to sew and quilt. Her whole family was huge Detroit Red Wing fans and they all enjoyed a good game together. Emily was currently working for her parents at the funeral home as a secretary, in addition to attending college. Being well known in her community wasn't always a perk for Emily because she couldn't get away with anything. But, it did mean that she had many good people who loved and cared for her, a gift she treasured every day.

Although Emily's life was all too brief, she was a person who lived her life to the fullest. Her greatest happiness was to make the people she loved happy, and time and time again she blessed her family with her strength of mind and spirit. Friends and family will always remember Emily's extraordinary presence in their lives.

Emily died suddenly on Thursday afternoon, December 15, 2005, from a pulmonary embolism. She was preceded in death by her beloved Grandpa Paul Peterson. She will be greatly missed by her fiancée Chris, her parents, Larry and Carey Wyman Jr., her brother, Nick, her grandparents, Jeanne Peterson of Byron Center, Larry and Marcia Wyman of Clare, her aunts and uncles: Sally and Jerry Wolters of Wyoming, Paul and Kris Peterson of Byron Center, Wendy Wyman of Saginaw, Randy and Sherry Wyman of Scottville, many cousins, "adopted" grandparents, and aunts and uncles. Funeral services will be held for Emily on Monday, December 19, at the Clare United Methodist Church with her pastor, the Rev. Dennis Bromley officiating. Burial will follow at Cherry Grove Cemetery in Clare. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Saturday, December 17, from 7-9 p.m. and on Sunday, December 18, from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. at the Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home in Clare. Please visit www.stephenson-wyman.com where you may share a memory of Emily, or make a memorial contribution to Emily's Gift, a fund set up to provide Christmas presents for needy children in the community, c/o Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home, 1005 N. McEwan, Clare, MI 48617.