Emily Bills

Emily Rachel Smith Bills

Our precious Emily passed away unexpectedly but peacefully from natural causes on September 27, 2022 while visiting family at her childhood home in the presence of her husband with parents, sons, and family close by.

Emily was born to Jeffrey R. and Karen B. Smith in Fort Polk (Leesville), Louisiana on October 19, 1988. As a child she lived in Salt Lake City, Utah and Honolulu, Hawaii, but Provo, Utah was the hometown where she valiantly cheered for her BYU Cougars and performed with the BYU Folk Dancers. She had a great three-point shot and relished playing backyard basketball with her boys. Emily cherished spending time with her family at Hilton Head Island, Hawaii, and Newport Coast where Kelly proposed. Emily graduated from Timpview High School in 2007 and from Brigham Young University in 2012.

Emily has lovingly served so many as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the time of her passing she was serving as a Primary President in the Tassajara Creek Ward in Pleasanton, CA. She loved children and they loved her.

Emily married Kelly A. Bills on March 6, 2009 in the Timpanogos Temple in American Fork, Utah. Their union was filled with joy as they welcomed three precious sons, Brooks, Cooper, and Jace. In fact, the night before her passing, Emily expressed to her family that she wished every marriage could be as “joyful as mine.” Emily was “all in” with Kelly’s college coaching career and felt blessed to settle in Pleasanton, CA as Kelly transitioned to a new career. Emily found great joy in being a wife, mother, and friend to so many. She loved her husband and boys tenderly and fiercely. They were and are her heart.

Emily is survived by her husband Kelly, and her children Brooks (9), Cooper (6), and Jace (3). Also by her parents Jeff and Karen Smith, grandmother Marjorie Cutchen Bone Crowley, and siblings Kara (Taylor) West, Erin (Jon) Fife, Jeffrey (Melinda Free) Smith, John F. (Lindsey Layton) Smith, and Rebecca (Devon) McBee. Also surviving are Randy and Robin Bills and their children K.C. (Stacy Johnson) Bills, Kevan (Stephanie Jensen) Bills, Craig (Rachel Nixon) Bills, and Kimberlee (Riley) Corbin along with numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 3, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Rock Canyon Ward Chapel, 3050 Mojave Lane, Provo UT.

Emily radiated the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ. She knows him. She loves him. She has always served him. She is with Him now.