Emily's Obituary - Extended Version

Emily Ruth (Dirks) Mulkey, age 26 of Lubbock, Texas, left this earth on Wednesday morning, January 27, 2010. She passed away at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama from a lifetime battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Although she is leaving behind a deep void on this earth, she is breathing deeply in heaven and no longer in pain. Emily's legacy is a life spent pursuing her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the midst of brokenness and pain, joy and hope. No matter her circumstances, she chose to trust the One who created her and sustained her.

At first glance, you might think of Emily and her kind disposition, her beautiful thick blonde hair (before making the recent switch to red), her frail body, and her caring nature. But as you looked deeper, you would find a hidden gem of the selfless servant, the determined mother, the supportive wife, the loyal friend, a lover of her family and a passionate woman of God. In the most guarded places you would discover the courageous fighter, the quiet contender, the hopeful soul. Emily exemplified faithfulness. And all the while, this imperfect human being with so many earthly challenges, was being strengthened, transformed and renewed day by day by the work and life of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Emily was born in Lubbock, TX on June 25, 1983. Emily’s true joy began at the age of 6 when her Dad led her into a personal relationship with Christ and she was forever changed. She participated in the Lubbock Swim Team for 4 years, played piano and was active in the Melonie Park Church youth group. At 16, she was able to go to Disney World with her family through the Make -A-Wish Foundation.

While working at Chick-Fil-A, Emily met her future husband, Jason Mulkey. They began dating when she was 18 and then married on February 15, 2003 in Lubbock. Chick-Fil-A moved them to Midland, TX where they were active at Crestview Baptist Church and then in 2005 to Cullman, Alabama to open up a new Chick-Fil-A store with Jason’s brother, Brandon Mulkey. They participated in Northbrook Baptist Church and developed a wonderful community of friends.

While in Cullman, Jason & Emily learned of the beautiful surprise of a pregnancy on February 9, 2006. It was a mix of emotions since Emily had been told all of her life that she probably would not be able to get pregnant and that it would be a dangerous endeavor for her. God had other plans and later that year…Faith was born! What a beautiful miracle and blessing she was and continues to be and is a legacy of the faith of her sweet Momma.

Emily’s health began to decline but on June 8, 2008, Emily was given another chance at a prolonged life with a double lung transplant at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL. The success of the transplant allowed them to move back to Lubbock to serve in the Lubbock Chick-Fil-A store and be close to their entire family. Emily also became passionate about helping with Teen Moms over the last year after volunteering with pregnancy centers as a young adult. Emily’s circumstances were characterized by her Cystic Fibrosis, but her life was characterized by her faith, family and friends.

Emily is survived by her loving husband, Jason and their precious daughter, Faith; her mother Stephanie Holland and her husband Darryl; her father Tim Dirks; three siblings: brother Tyler, sister Callie and husband Hayden, brother Landon, her grandparents James & Bonnie Newville; Mary Beth & Rex Wordelman, Bob & Alice Vander Grift; her husband’s family: Tom & Mitzi Mulkey, Juanita Johnson, Brandon & Christie Mulkey and their 6 children, Melissa & David Blann and their 3 children all of Lubbock, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins that loved her very much.

Visitation will be held Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 3-5 PM at Lake Ridge Chapel (6025 82nd Street Lubbock, TX 79424). Memorial Service will be Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:00 PM at Lakeridge United Methodist Church (4701 82nd Street Lubbock, TX 79424) with Duke White officiating. Pallbearers include Tyler Dirks, Landon Dirks, Brandon Mulkey, Hayden Lavo, Eric Randolph and Matt Stallworth.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following organizations that were special to Emily: Teen Moms Program of Lubbock Youth for Christ (2621 34th St., Lubbock, TX 79410, www.yfclubbock.org, Contact: Renee Morales 806-535-5486); Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Plains, Inc (411 Fillmore, Amarillo, TX 79101, www.texasplains.wish.org); Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (6931 Arlington Rd., 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814, www.cff.org, 1-800-FIGHT-CF).

To send your words of encouragement to Emily’s family, view her life tribute, and to watch the celebration service webcast at 2:00 p.m. Monday, visit www.memorialdesigners.net.