- Date Of Birth: August 4, 1928
- Date Of Death: September 1, 2017
- State: Idaho
Losing someone you love is never easy, but in the time reminiscing back on Emmalyn Ball Degen’s life, it’s clear she lived a wonderful one.
Em, born August 4th, 1928 in Ammon, Idaho was the 9th of 10 children. From the beginning, she had such a vibrant presence. With her snow-white hair and bright blue eyes, her beauty radiated outward.
Em lived in Southern California for 50 years, where she and Bob created a beautiful family of five. Her three children, Craig, Mary, and Alan kept her busy at home as she also worked as a lab technologist for her entire career. Even after Bob retired, she continued to work for many years as she loved it so much. In 2000, Bob and Em moved back to Emmett, Idaho to live in the family home they were married in, to be closer to Alan, his wife Kim, and their only two grandchildren, Robert and Lauren, whom she loved and cherished unconditionally. She was their number one fan at every sporting event and piano recital, and was the greatest grandmother a child could wish for.
Her summers were spent in Island Park at their cabin, where each night she and Bob slow danced in the kitchen to Nat King Cole spinning on the record player. She was involved in many women’s groups, including the P.E.O, and loved to spend her free time sewing and enjoying tea (and champagne) with her friends. She lived without regret, constantly devoting her time and effort into making other’s lives better. She was a proper, kind, caring, and loving woman; a true reflection of what it means to live with grace and dignity.
Up until the day she passed, she never let her family leave without saying “I love you more”. She truly did love them more than anything, and her legacy will live on in their hearts forever. Emmalyn is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Kim, her two grandchildren Robert and Lauren, and her daughter, Mary.
