Emily Ann DeBrine Foundation

Robert DeBrine: I am Emily's Dad. I am so greatfull to have had a daughter like her. There are so many memories I don't know where to start. Like the time we went to school for her father, daughter pumkin carving contest. Setting up a volley ball net in the back yard when she would come up for the weekend with Austin. Or going deer hunting with her on her Uncle Dennis's farm. I will never forget what she told me after she shot her 10 point buck!  When I walked up after she shot, she said "Dad it was a big buck like the ones you see on those hunting shows" she was so excited. Emily will alway's be our little angle. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about her. I know that the EMILY ANN DEBRINE FOUNDATION will help many Nevada kids in the future. I would personally like to thank everyone for there donation's that keep her wonderful spirit alive.

Robert DebBrine

Melissa LaNear:  I am Emily Ann DeBrine’s Mother.  I was truly blessed to have such an amazing daughter.  She was a fantastic sister, a forever friend, and a true companion.  I have five children: Austin 16, Emily 15 (Forever), Noah 8, Andrew 4, and Ellaina 3.  My husband Dan and I have been married five years.  2008 was a good year for my relationship with Emily.  We began to play in golf tournaments together (She hated the front nine…said she would never play with me again…then asked when our next tournament was, in the end!), we began “hanging out,” we were finally becoming great friends.  The past few months of her life presented hardships, that drew the two of us closer, and solidified our relationship.  She shared her dreams, passions, and opinions to me--opinions all of the time…she was 15!  The last month of her brief life was truly her happiest.  Corey made her smile, and put a sparkle back into her eyes.  She loved him, and expressed love to her family more eagerly.  Our family will never be whole.  We tell her siblings that she is our very own Guardian Angel.  We are working towards healing, and trying to keep her memories alive every day.  My family finds comfort in the positive impact that Emily’s Foundation will have on the youth in Nevada, Missouri.  Just as Emily would have wanted.  Thank you for your continued support!

Melissa LaNear

Austin DeBrine:  I am Emily’s older Brother.  I am 16, will be 17 in January.  Emily and I were 16 months apart in age.  We grew up together.  She was one of my best friends.  She was always there for me.  We have so many memories.  We loved to deer hunt together with my Dad and Uncle Adam.  She shot a perfect 10 point buck in 2007.  I was with her when she shot, yet we weren’t able to track the deer.  We went back for lunch at Adam’s.  Emily really believed that she shot the buck, and she talked us all into going back out to try to track it, even though we doubted that she actually shot it.  She had a way of talking you into things!  We looked for, and found the buck--a gut shot.  She believed in herself, and got a great buck.  It was always fun.  It sat in the deep freezer for a year!  Emily and Adam finally took it to the taxidermist.  It is going to be ready in January.  I can’t wait to see the mount.  She always listened to me, and we always tried to laugh.  I knew my sister pretty well, and I am looking forward to helping with her Foundation.

Austin DeBrine

I’m Katelyn Elaine Triplett. I’m 16 (December 17) I’m Emily Ann DeBrine’s best friend. I am currently attending Nevada High School which I attended with Emily. Emily wanted a lot out of life. She first wanted to be an elementary teacher. After she realized she didn’t want to do that she wanted to be a Criminal Psychologist. After she decided that wasn’t quite the job for her she wanted to become a Nurse like her mother. She wanted to stay close to her family but didn’t want to limit herself to Nevada. She was planning on taking classes at the high school to enable her to get her C.N.A. certification. Then pursue further education to get the degree she needed.  She played on the Nevada Lady Tigers golf team her freshman and sophomore year. Some of the things she cared about was helping children with down syndrome. She hated when people were disrespected for racial issues or the fact of “wealth” issues. She tried to make everyone equal. We also discussed the future quite a bit as well as her past. She “vented” to me quite a bit about things not going quite right or about how her perfect day would or did go.  She talked about things in her life that only I knew. She opened up to me which was hard for her to do sometimes. She was outgoing and had a very “bright” personality. She often talked about her wedding.. She wanted a black/red/white wedding and laughed when I designed the cake for her! – (that’s a tad bit of funny info just showing we did talk about EVERYTHING) She loved the color Red and loved the song Fishing in the Dark. She was not only my best friend but my “forever friend.”

Katelyn Elaine Triplett