Emily ‘Em’ Cook Dyches
October 27, 1976 – February 24, 2016
Salem, Utah
Early Life: Emily “Em” led an exemplary life full of joy and meekness which began in Moroni, Utah, just over 39 years ago. She was joyfully welcomed into this world October 27, 1976, by her proud parents, Lynn and Nora Cook. As the oldest daughter, her older brother and younger sisters remember her as sweet, loving, soft-hearted, talented and considerate.
Emily had a sharp memory and would playfully retell stories to the delight and dismay of her family. In high school, she was charismatic, kind and adored by all of her peers. At North Sanpete High School, she participated in drill, softball, choir and LDS Seminary.
Life’s Work/Service/Interests: As a young adult, Emily attended and graduated from Snow College where she met many close and cherished friends. She later transferred to Brigham Young University, where she fittingly graduated in elementary education. This allowed her to combine two of her lifelong passions: children and education. She shared this passion with many young children as she taught school for six fulfilling years at Challenger Schools.
As a teen and young adult she excelled as a gifted pianist. She has since shared that talent with many others through teaching piano lessons and willingly playing any time someone needed an accompanist. Her loved ones will most assuredly miss her impromptu recitals, turned family sing-a-longs, in the family room. They cherish those memories which they will continue to hold so dear. The kids and Eric especially loved when Em would passionately pound out Journey’s classic, “Don’t Stop Believin’”.
Towards the end of her time at BYU, Em married Eric Dyches, her childhood and high school sweetheart. Married for over 17 years, their romance started as young love between two innocent children in the third grade. Theirs is a love story for the ages which was sealed for time and all eternity in the beautiful Manti Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 30, 1998. Eric adored Emily and the two were seldom apart. She is his everything, and he cherishes the fact that he was the one she chose as a companion. It was his honor and privilege to adore and protect her during her time on earth. He draws faith and confidence in the power of Divinity, which will allow that same adoration and protection to continue after this life.
Em’s training in the home by her own wonderful and devoted mother prepared her to be an affectionate and compassionate mother to five amazing children. Em’s attributes of kindness, patience and meekness can be seen in the lives of her children. She was deliberate about teaching her children not only practical life lessons, but more importantly, eternal lessons, centered on how one can progressively become more like the Savior in word and deed. She never shied from sharing her testimony with her children. Her beautiful children, and their lives, will prove to be her most treasured legacy.
As an adult, Emily never stopped learning. She became a passionate photographer who recorded life with a creative and artistic eye. Her work as a children’s portrait photographer is inspirational and timeless. Her favorite sessions were of her own children, her nieces and nephews and children of her closest friends. Emily loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, very much. This was evident in everything she did. The family draws great comfort in knowing hers was a life well lived. She exemplified the attributes and teachings of the Master. She carried herself with grace and compassion, willingly serving and loving those around her.
One of her greatest attributes was her commitment to limit her own unrighteous judgment for those around her. Emily “Em” Cook Dyches, of Salem, Utah, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend passed on from this earthly existence on Wednesday, February 24, 2016. She was 39.
Family Message: “Emily will never be forgotten as a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend.”
Survived By: Her eternal sweetheart, Eric; their five precious children: Jace Eric, Addison Emily, Kolby Karl, Macie Jane, and Trey Hudson; her parents, Lynn and Nora Blackham Cook; siblings: Chris Cook (Christy), Maria Slade (Joel), Becca Anderson (Ben), and Megan Johnson (Ray); as well as many other supportive and loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Source: The Emily Effect & Find a Grave