Emily Stephens

Emily Ann Stephens, 23, of Dallas passed away on January 23, 2018, after a life long battle with brain cancer. She left this life surrounded by family members and loved ones at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee ,where she had been a patient for several years. Visitation for those who cannot attend her memorial service will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 2, First United Methodist Church Waco. A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 3, at First United Methodist Church Waco. Wear happy colors – no black dresses please! The family will host a reception for all who knew and loved Emily after the service at the Phoenix Ballroom. Emily was born in Waco on March 14, 1994. She attended Waco Montessori School, and then China Spring schools until she graduated from high school in 2012. She was Valedictorian of her class, Captain of the Electric Blues Dance Team, Editor of the Yearbook, and President of the Waco chapter of the National Charity League. Following high school, Emily attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with highest honors from the McCombs School of Business in 2016. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and worked in the Undergraduate Office of the business school. She loved her UT experience and had friends from the many diverse areas of her campus life. She was then employed with Frito- Lay in Plano as a marketing analyst until her illness made it impossible to work. Cherished by her family and friends, Emily was highly intelligent with a zest for life and a keen wit that kept all of her friends in a more or less constant chuckle as she sent out her daily observations about life through social media. She bravely maintained her sense of humor throughout her battle with cancer despite suffering intensely at times. Above all, Emily was kind and thought of others above herself in all situations. She loved to read, travel, and prepare great meals. As a young girl, she particularly enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series of books (multiple times) and never lost her fondness for the stories. Watching a Harry Potter movie with Emily was like sitting with the director! Emily is survived by her parents, John and Brenda Stephens of China Spring; older brother, Ben of Dallas, and younger brother, Mark of China Spring. She is also survived by her maternal grandparents, Don and Joyce Pike of China Spring, as well as Uncle Keith Pike and wife, MaryAnn , of San Antonio, Uncle Scott Stephens and wife, Elizabeth, of Wimberley, Aunt Ann Tinsley of Friendswood, Uncle Neal Tinsley of Friendswood, and Uncle Jim Stephens and wife ,Tina, of The Woodlands. Her surviving cousins are Grayson and Laura Pike, Sam Tinsley, and Lauren and Michael Stephens. Also left to cherish her memory are boyfriend, Sanjay Iyer; and special girlfriends, Nikki Miller, Abbey Miller, and Falon Coleman. The family would like to thank the numerous talented doctors and nurses who so lovingly cared for Emily throughout her life. Of particular importance were Doctors David Donahue, JoAnn Sanders and Jeffrey Murray of Cook Children’s Hospital, Dr. Michael Scott of Boston Children’s Hospital; Dr. Anita Mahajan at MD Anderson; and most of all , Dr. Amar Gajjar, Ginger Spickler, Katie Heady and their staff at St. Jude. The St. Jude team shared Emily’s fighting spirit in the battle against her tumor and were loving supporters to our entire family as we made this journey. Donations may be made in honor of Emily to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis Tennessee (stjude.org), Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas (cookchildrens.org), The American Cancer Society (cancer.org) or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.