Kelly Raye Emery

Kelly Raye Emery was born on August 13, 1965, to Philip and Donna Armstrong at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. She grew up with her brothers Phillip “Scott” and Mark Armstrong, moving from California, Utah, Texas, New Mexico, and Iowa. She was a proud “Air Force brat”. Some of her most fond childhood memories were on Grandma and Grandpa Betts’ farm in Coon Rapids. She graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1983. She was active in track and cross country and a member of the cheerleader squad. She attended college in Omaha where she received her degree in Public Relations. She met Keith Toole, and they were married in Coon Rapids, IA in 1985. In 1990, they welcomed their first child, Mykaila Marie (Norton) while living in Indianapolis, Indiana. In January of 1995, Alexander and Zachary completed their family in Omaha, where they established their home for years to come. During her kid’s younger years, she spent many days sitting in bleachers watching her boys play baseball, football, basketball, and wrestling. She also loved going on coffee dates and shopping trips with her daughter. Often, their home was full of the kid’s friends, who all affectionately referred to her as “Momma Toole” or “Momma Kelly”. She was very involved in her kids’ lives throughout their upbringing. She was also very active in her church community, where she loved serving as the Assistant Director in the Preschool Ministry at Westside Church. In 2011, Kelly reconnected with Gene Emery, her high school sweetheart. The two married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa in September of 2020. Through their marriage, her family grew with her stepchildren Zach and Kylie, whom she loved like her own. Gene and Kelly lived in Des Moines, IA and she worked at Paychex as a Benefits Specialist and Client Advocate until her brain cancer diagnosis. Kelly and Gene enjoyed long drives in the country as well as driving through the mountains often with no particular destination in mind. She was a staple at Des Moines Fire Station #9, where she enjoyed hanging out with the guys and eating pizza on Friday nights when Gene was on shift. Rumor has it that at one point, they were going to vote Gene off of the shift and replace him with Kelly, but that cannot be confirmed or denied. Family and friends meant absolutely everything to Kelly. She was devoted to her family and loved caring for her grandparents and parents. She was the “rock and the glue” that held her family together. Kelly loved spending time with her seven grandchildren who were the joy of her life. Being a grandma brought her so much joy, and she loved each of her grandchildren more than anything in this world. She loved having a good time and was always the life of the party. She made everyone feel welcome and a part of the family. She enjoyed traveling (especially to the beach and the mountains), taking photos of nature (always searching for a moose or the prettiest sunsets), playing games with her family, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and Nebraska Huskers football teams, eating ice cream, and doing crafty things (painting). She was diagnosed with glioblastoma in May of 2023. She underwent two separate rounds of chemo and radiation and many other treatments over the 17 months. She fought courageously with a smile on her face until the very end. Her courage and strength is something that will resonate within all of her family and friend’s lives for an eternity. Kelly passed away at her son’s home in Valley, Nebraska on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, surrounded by her loving family at the age of 59. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Melvin and Grace Betts and Kay and Gilbert Armstrong, her parents-in-law Darrell and Joan Emery and brother-in-law Todd Emery. Kelly is survived by her husband Gene, daughter Mykaila Norton, her husband Jonathan, and their children: Elijah, Evelyn, Elyse, and Ezekiel, twins sons and their families Alexander & Julie Toole and their children Grey and Wrenly, and Zachary & Erin Toole, and their son Tripp, Gene’s children Zachary Emery and Kylie Emery, her parents Phillip and Donna Armstrong, and her brothers Phillip “Scott” Armstrong and Mark & Michele Armstrong.

Kelly Raye Emery

August 13, 1965 - October 15, 2024