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Emma Smith Obituary
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She was born on August 9, 1999, in Wheeling, WV, daughter of Walter Charles, Jr. and Bernadette Marie Smith.
Emma Kate was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Maureen E. and Bernard K. Dawes.
In addition to her parents, surviving Emma Kate is her brother, Tyler James Smith; her paternal grandparents, Starr and John Henderson, and Walter C. Smith, Sr.; her aunts and uncles, William R. (Jodi) Smith, Larry Dawes, Beth Ann Dawes, Brenda MacGhee, Barbara (Tom) Dawes-Lau, and Beverly (Gary) Davis, Amy(Tim) Minch, Dennis Henderson; her loving cousins, Allison and Kaitlin Smith, Lauren (Andrew) Ott, Jeffrey Dawes, Amanda (Robert Urwin) MacGhee, Molly (Anthony) Sovich, Dawson Lau, Owen and Rory Jones, Stella and Spencer Sovich, Annabelle Ott, Leah(Nick) Thieman, Timmy Minch, Jared(Courtney), Kayla and Hadley Henderson.
Emma Kate had the heart and the voice of an angel and a smile that lit up the night sky. She was a gifted singer, always discovering new artists and new music and loved to share music with others. Emma Kate will be sincerely missed by all she touched and will always be deeply loved by all who truly knew her.
Emma Kate, true to her character, donated her organs and is ensuring her legacy will live through her gift. Her unending generosity will forever impact the recipients lives by their improved quality of life.
Family and friends will be received at Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003 on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from 3-7 pm where services will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 11 am with Rev. Margie Carr officiating.
Immediately following services, a luncheon will be held at Stratford Springs, 100 Kensington Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.kepnerfuneral.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to West Liberty Music Therapy Program, 208 West Liberty Drive, Campus Union Box 126, West Liberty, WV 26074, or Ohio County Animal Shelter, 7011 National Road, Triadelphia, WV 26059.
Arrangements by Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304-232-2732).
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Emma, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Emma Leahy
June 18, 2025
Emma Kate was one of the closest friends I made when I moved down to florida for college. She showed me what true sisterhood was & healed a part of me that wouldn´t be healed if it weren´t for her reliability, loyalty and consistency. I´ll always remember how full of life Emma was and i´ll miss that beautiful smile being down here on earth with us. Thank you to her family for raising a gem of a human. Emma Kate is deeply missed and loved.
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The Pros
June 27, 2024
Deepest sympathy. Sorry we couldn´t be there to support the family in person, but you will be in our prayers.
Melanie McMurtry
June 26, 2024
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I haven´t seen you since John Mark´s wedding 40+ years so I never got the chance to meet your beautiful, loving & talented daughter. I know this is an accurate description of her from the heartbreaking memorial stories by those who knew & loved her.
I´ve counseled many parents with the unimaginable loss of their child and feel that the only responsibility that you, Bernie and Tyler have at this time is to keep breathing. Lean into the love that surrounds you. When you´re able, look up an organization called Helping Parents Heal. It´s an organization only for parents created by parents to support other parents.
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