On October 7th, the unimaginable happened when Emma was on a mission to help one of her closest friends with support through a marriage breakup.

Emma had been off work for several months due to a hand injury, which threatened her career choice of cooking and continuing her training in culinary school.

Emma had just had the surgery she needed on her hand and was about to start physical therapy. In a couple of weeks, she was planning to return to the job she had loved.

Emma selflessly allocated her last bit of money to taking the trip to Durango to help a friend in need.

Just moments after her arrival to help in the move, Emma and her beloved friend, Shelby, were both taken from this beautiful life in a moment of tragic violence by Shelby's ex-husband.

I write this GoFundMe as her boss and feel the excruciating pain her family is enduring.

It's impossible to know how one can help other than by easing some of the financial expenses that are occurring.

If you feel moved to help in any way—whether through a donation, sharing this page, or simply keeping Emma and her loved ones in your thoughts—you are warmly welcomed and appreciated.

Thank you for your kindness and support during this difficult time as we honor and remember Emma's beautiful life.

Below are some links for those of you who would like to join us in celebrating the life Emma created for herself.

Please click this link: Emma Sims Celebration of Life

Memorial Services will be held 11/1/2025 at Alys A LA Cart at 2pm

625 Paseo del Pueblo Sur

Taos, NM 87571

Emma's sisters' tribute.

You died a hero, and the truth is you were already a hero. In how you lived, in everything you overcame. In the beauty and creativity, humor, loyalty, forgiveness and goodness you offered the world and everyone in it.

Mom said "she would find this the most poetic end" and while it doesn't ease the pain we're in, or curb the denial we can't let go of .... I believe it is true.

I drove through the fall mountains, the vibrant colors. Spooky season, your all the time jam. The bright grey sky of fog and misty rains. Like something out of a Stephen King movie. I thought to myself, every aspect, detail, element and meaning of your tragic end- is as though you wrote it yourself.

I wish it was just that- a masterpiece of a story. That you were here to discuss with us and cry and laugh about. That it didn't mean reality- and that you weren't actually gone.

You would never have forgiven yourself if Shelby was taken without you. I can see it and hear it and feel it, "I should have been there, I should have done something sooner, I should have protected her."

But you did, bold and hopeful, strong and bright. You saved money and made time to bring joy to Shelby's life for what was supposed to be a week, gently and respectfully holding her hand until she was ready to escape and bloom with you.

I saw one person refer to Shelby as "a giggly firecracker of a person" and I know she brought that to your life too. ❤️

I am beyond thankful and honored to have spent the last couple of years so, so close to you. That you were able to forgive me for things from the past. That we were able to talk through and heal so much pain and turmoil from our childhood and teenage years.

You stayed sober, you made one hard, healthy choice after the next. You followed your passions and created an amazing life and never stopped changing and improving your existence. You learned to take good care of yourself which wasn't easy- and draw boundaries, get yourself out of bad situations, and had moved forward to do the same for Shelby.

You were the ultimate inspiration to her, and to all of us. And will continue to be. Every step of sobriety and creativity will be in your honor always and hold your wisdom and badass, elegant strength.

Identifying and extracting the poison of humanity and this world- that creeps and disguises itself as normal, was a skill you wove gracefully into your healing and light, transformed and wore loudly and boldly. You supported and stood up for the right thing, advocated peace and justice to the suppressed, abused or poorly judged, no matter what it cost you or what other people thought. Since we were kids your imagination was so strong, and usually full of a better, magical world where things were fair and pretty and fun.

You saved Hazel, and gave her the softest, most exciting pure love and care.

Everything is EMMAnating you and you guys' love and joy. Yes, I think you'd appreciate the pun. Just like your Instagram emmanentdeath. The plants, the sky, the bugs and animals, music on the radio and the way we all feel you- happy and bright as ever, and sorry to leave us and everything you and we were building.

Fortunately we got to spend a few more times and a lot of phone hours together, but the last time you were at my apartment in July we orchestrated this picture of you holding the rainbow... It's one of the last of many, many magical images I will hold of you.

Emma Z Blackthorne I love you so much and I hope I will stop waiting for your phone call or to see you walking up. I don't know if I ever really will. But I will learn to accept and love the way your presence and essence has merged into this realm a different way. A way that was always in you, and I guess now... you're in it.