Celebration of Life of Kenna Emmons

This is Kenna’s obituary, you can also read it at www.stevensonandsons.com. We thank you all for your continued support, your thoughts and prayer keep us going each and every day as we face a completely different path than we had planned on.
A celebration of Kenna’s life will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Powder River County Gymnasium in Broadus.

Kenna Shalyne Emmons, age 8, left this world on a ray of sunshine on February 18th. She lay in the arms of her mommy and daddy as they held her tight and let her go. She fought a valiant battle against one of the rarest of the rare diseases, Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome. She underwent a bone marrow transplant in February, 2010 to give her the only chance at life that she could have. She is now free to play with angels chasing butterflies, collecting ladybugs and making frogs her favorite ‘pocket’ pets.

Kenna was born on August 30th, 2002 in Miles City, MT. She started Kindergarten at Broadus Elementary School and loved every minute of it. Due to her susceptibility to illness she began one on one instruction with Miss Abby Jones whom she adored. Kenna loved to learn, she had big dreams – being a nurse, a veterinarian, a rancher like her daddy, a coach like her mommy, a teacher…she just couldn’t decide which one she would like the most so she decided the best thing to do was try them all! She loved to decorate; she designed her own bedroom with the brightest colors and Tinkerbelle here at home and while in Cincinnati she couldn’t seem to get enough Hannah Montana. I don’t think there has ever been a hospital room quite as beautiful as Kenna’s, she loved to make everything her own and wanted her room to be a dance party and we made it so!

She was preceded in death by her Paternal Great Grandma Doris Jean Emmons, Her Maternal Great Grandparents Jim and Laura Larsen and Harold and Margaret Emmons. Kenna is survived by her mommy and daddy – Kimberlea and Brett Emmons, her big brother Malachi and little brother Cale; paternal Great Grandparents Billie and Lars Knudson and Charley Emmons; Grandparents Tom and Ann Emmons; maternal Grandparents Bob and Cathy Emmons; Aunt and Uncle Jacy and Bill Isaacs (Emma); Aunt Heather Emmons (Faith and Chance); Aunt Hilaree Emmons (Tehya and Kimi); and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Kenna spent her life as all children should; happy, playing with her brothers and loving everything around her. She had the very special ability to make the people around her happy and she did so every single day. She filled our lives with smiles and laughter, promise and joy. Her life was filled with happiness as she spent each day at home playing with her brothers Cale and Chi and cousin Emma. One of her very favorite things to do was go fishing with her daddy as he taught her to cast like a pro. Often they could be found outside practicing on the cats! She could also be found helping her mommy coach volleyball and was the Lady Hawks’ biggest fan. She was only six days old at her first practice and by the age of five could pepper with the best of them!

Her big brother, Chi, was her hero, her Superman. When she was little she would often sneak into his bedroom at night and we’d find her cuddled up in his arms sleeping soundly. Not a day would go by that she didn’t crawl up on his lap and ask for a story or just sit and watch cartoons. She loved to make him flex his muscles, making him take his shirt off every time! He was the strongest, nicest, best big brother she could’ve had and toward the end of her fight he was the one person who could ease her pain and make her smile. She felt the same way about her little brother, Cale. They were inseparable while we were home. They spent the majority of each day playing and laughing and living it up. The two were often joined by Emma and the three of them would play the day away with not a care in the world…the only thing that mattered was having FUN!

Kenna also loved to be read to and listening to Grammy read her to sleep was a very special time for them. She and Grammy would make up their own versions of stories and those were always her favorite. Poppa had his own special place in her heart as she was born on his birthday and every year they got to share cake and make wishes. She was so happy to have a special day with her Poppa. Grandpa also held a special place in Kenna’s heart…the very first thing she wanted to do when she got home was go check cows with Grandpa. She shared his love of animals and wanted to be involved in everything he did. Kenna’s favorite way to pass the time with Grandma was to work in her garden. There wasn’t much time for work when catching frogs and toads took priority though! Of course with catching them came finding homes for them…so Grandma’s garden became a safe haven for hopping creatures!

Kenna was loved by three wonderful Aunts, too. She absolutely loved that Jacy had planted pumpkins her garden and let her pick out her very own every year to carve for Halloween. Spending time with her was always a favorite way to spend a day. Auntie Hilaree’s visits were something that she always looked forward to as she brought with her Kenna’s “bestest friend” and cousin, Tehya. The girls were two peas in a pod and loved spending time together, along with Kimi. Auntie Heather was very special, too, as she spent very special time with Kenna as she fought her battle in Cincinnati where they had slumber parties and movie parties every night watching Hannah Montana until morning!

Family comes from outside the home, too and Kenna had huge family. Randy and Aletta Shannon and their sons, Tyrel and Tell were very special to Kenna. Tucker, Randy’s little dog, held an honored spot in Kenna’s big heart. Early last year Tucker went to prepare heaven for Kenna and when she left us she took him his prized toy ball, clutched tightly in her little hand. She held onto that ball every day and when things got tough, as they often did, she spoke to Tucker as if he sat beside her. They are together now, running and playing ball. I’m sure she’s introduced him and Buddy Lee to many, many happy angels that were waiting for them.

Kenna touched the lives of so many people, leaving an imprint and a legacy that will never be forgotten. She was a happy, happy child with the soul of an angel since the day she was born. Her purpose here on Earth was to teach people to ‘love unconditionally and give without expectation.’ She fulfilled her purpose early and because of Kenna everything that was good is now better and all that needed changed has been.

Kenna was a daughter, a granddaughter, a little sister, a big sister, a cousin and a friend and now she is our angel. We miss her more every day and we will love her forever.

Heads Up Hearts Strong
~Kimber Emmons Print this post