Our darling and energetic Emmalynn Thair Herbstritt passed away after a canyoneering accident about 1:45 pm on Saturday, November 12, 2022, in Grand County, Utah.
Emmalynn was born on May 15, 2001, at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California to Bryan and Misty Herbstritt, making her an adorable little Marine Corps brat. At the tender age of 2 weeks, she moved with her parents to Salt Lake City, Utah, a place she would call home the remainder of her short life. She is the firstborn of three children.
She spent her freshman year at Brighton High School and graduated from East High School, playing on the ice hockey team of each high school. Hockey was a huge part of her life. She played at the recreation level before playing on many competitive teams, finishing her time in Utah playing on the Utah Lady Grizz 19U team, the premier girls’ team in Utah. She was awarded the coveted Art Teece Young Lady MVP in 2019, her senior year of high school.
After graduation, she ventured to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to attend Northern Michigan University. She played for the women’s NMU hockey team that was USA Hockey Nationals Bound after winning regionals undefeated until Covid shut down the hockey world. She returned home a few months early to finish her first collegiate year online due to Covid.
She chose to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her original assignment was to Canada Montreal, French-speaking. Due to Covid she was “temporarily” assigned to the Idaho Idaho Falls mission, where she served the entirety of her mission. She spent nine months in Salmon, Idaho – her heaven on Earth.
Upon returning from her mission, she took advantage of the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong dream of working in Moab, Utah. She landed a position with the Moab Adventure Center. She quickly fell in love with Moab making many friends that she quickly called family. While working full-time at the MAC she trained to become a river guide and canyoneering guide for Western River Expeditions. She treasured her thrill-seeking adventures with her tight-knit MAC/WRE family.
Due to a tragic accident, she passed away while working as a canyoneering guide on the Morning Glory Arch trail.
She followed in the steps of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as she strived to love all she met. She inspired all who knew her. She was a source of strength to many. She was fiercely competitive with a heart of gold. She was an angel on Earth. Emmalynn was a wonderful example of righteous living to those around her, especially her many young cousins. She will be sorely missed by all.
She is survived by her parents, Bryan and Misty Herbstritt, her brother, Bentley, and sister, Audrey; grandparents Robert and Margaret Herbstritt, Karl Bartell, Barbara Armstrong, and Clint and Lorraine Searle; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by a grandmother, Roxann Bartell, and a grandfather, Rock Armstrong.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 21, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Indian Hills Ward Building, 1320 Wasatch Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84108. A visitation will be held at the church the night prior, Sunday, November 20, 2022, from 6-9 pm and the day of the service at the church from 9:30-10:45 am. Graveside service at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Rd, Sandy, UT 84092. A family luncheon will be held after the interment.
If you are unable to attend the services, you may watch the recorded service by clicking on the blue "Watch Services" button above.
We would like to condolences to the family at this difficult time.
She will truly missed.
You have our deepest sympathy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
A beautiful soul gone away too soon,
Those we have held in our arms for a little while, we hold in our hearts forever.
I am truly sorrow for your daughter's loss. My heart and prayers are with you.
Well wishes to all who are blessed with her memory.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bryan and family, We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your sweet daughter. She was a beautiful girl. It is so hard to loose a child. We are sending prayers your way. May Heavenly Father bless you with comfort and healing.
I'm so sorry to hear about Emmalynn's passing. She was a very nice and sweet person. It was a pleasure to have her serve her mission in my hometown. She will be dearly missed.
Sincerely,
Richard Tyler
Dear Bryan and Misty,
Deanna and I have been heartbroken from the moment we heard of Emmalynn's accident and send our heartfelt condolences to you.
I’m so sorry ...I always enjoyed talking to her...a few time when I was grumpy on the daily
Emmalynn would be so upbeat that I couldn’t help but smile.
I always knew that when she was around, positive vibes were happening.
We chatted a couple times about her experiences at Northern Michigan University
As I spent a lot of time up there also
RIP ...u will be missed
I first met Emmalynn in summer 2020, when we started missionary training via Zoom on the same day. We served in the Idaho Falls mission together for nine months, including three months in the same area. I so vividly remember meeting together in missionary council meetings and trainings, calling each other, playing games together on preparation days, and lastly, signing each other's journals before we moved to different areas. I will always remember her sweet, genuine spirit and love of God. It feels so surreal to think that she has finished her journey on planet Earth. This loss is without a doubt painful and shocking.
It certainly feels sad to have to say goodbye to Emmalynn. But I will always remember this: in Chinese, "再见“ does not mean "goodbye". Instead, it's a very hopeful "see you again".
See you again, Emmalynn!
I loved meeting Emmalynn in Moab, I won’t forget the time she let me blast my music in work before we closed and we danced around the store together to Michael Bublé love album while we moped the floors. She always emulated the saviors love. She was a friend to all and I will miss her, she was a real angel on earth. ❤️
I'm sorry that this happened. It was far too soon.
Emmalynn is extraordinary in that she lights up the room when she walks in. She has a way of bringing sunshine wherever she goes. I remember being at girls camp with her and seeing how the younger girls idolized her and looked up to her—she is a gifted leader in addition to all of her other talents. We are so so for your loss. She’s truly one of a kind. All of our love to you. ❤️
We are so blessed to have known Emmalynn. She was a great example of leaving people and places better than she found them through her love and service. She will be missed, but her example will not be forgotten. We love you Herbstritt family!
Emmalynn was such a bright and fun spirit. I worked with her this summer in Moab, and even though we worked different jobs and didn't see each other as often, she was always so welcoming and so kind to me and everyone around her. She lit up every room she walked into and made everyone laugh with her endearing sense of humor. She was a friend to all who knew her. I never saw her without a smile on her face, and she was always so optimistic. I will miss you Emmalynn, and I am so grateful for the time I had to know you.
I will never forget the first day I met Emmalynn. We were leaving for stake girls camp at Heber Valley Girls Camp. Misty introduced herself along with Emmalynn after moving into the Indian Hills Ward a few days prior. Emmalynn was amazing at camp. She had a light within her that truly radiated. Instead of being bitter or angry about going to a camp where she knew no one, she was so happy and looked for ways to get involved and include others. She was a great conversationalist and sought out girls who looked like they needed a friend. I remember vividly her sitting at the craft table making buttons to put on her lanyard and involving others that sat all around her. She was mature beyond her years and looked for the positive in all things. . I kept in touch with Emmalynn over the years and loved reading her weekly emails as she served her mission. She was a gift and I’m so fortunate to have gotten to know her. Sending my deepest love and condolences. - Michelle Wilcox
Thank you Emmalynn for teaching to love like the savior and for being a great example to me and all my island sisters! We will miss you alot! Prayers and love to emmalynn's ohana! 🤍
Emmalyn used to hug me every time I came into work and would tell me how awesome I was and it made me feel like a million bucks. We liked to go to this beautiful outdoor spot by a small waterfall to read books together and talk about anything and everything. She was an incredible friend and I am going to miss her fiercely. Love you Emmalyn
She was a wonderful young woman full of life, just starting her journey. She touched everybody's life that she came in contact with, she helped people no matter what and was always there for those she loved. She saw the best in everyone, listened with an open mind and heart and she will be greatly missed but never forgotten. My condolences to my brother and his family but we will see her again. Love you guys.
Know that you are loved by your ward family during the time is takes to cope with this tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you daily, as we drive by your house.
Sweet,sweet Emmalynn! A lovely young lady. Everyone who had the honor of knowing her loved her. Condolences to her loved ones.
Margaret Bleak
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to know sweet Sister Emmalynn Herbstritt. She will be missed. but she will always have a special place in the hearts of all those who she had contact with
We both worked for Western, and she was a great friend to my sister Emily who worked in the moab adventure center with her. Every time we said hi to each other at the warehouse, she had a smile on her face. She added such a positive, beautiful energy to the MAC and employee housing. She inspired everyone who worked with her to live adventurously and be themselves. The world needs more people like her. I can't help but think of all the amazing adventures she's beginning on the other side. Thank you Emmalyn, we'll see you later.
I am very sorry. I don't know what to say. I don't understand the loss, the pain, the suffering. I remember either talking to you or reading something from you. I can not even understand the pain.
She came to our house with her companion. She was at the library the day I was there and needed encouragement and help regarding a project I was working on! She and her companion went to the church and met me there and listened to me and comforted and encouraged me and offered to help me as they could. They gave me feedback. I had experienced some blows and setbacks and felt overwhelmed. They truly were at the right place at the right time and helped me feel God was aware of my project and my need.