Emily Kristen Glos

Emily was born November 26, 1974, in Portland and grew up in Beaverton, Oregon. She was among the first students in the Beaverton School District to participate in the SHAPE program, an experimental government-funded program to see if early infant stimulation would enhance readiness for schooling. Emily attended Ridgewood Elementary, McKay Middle school and later graduated from Westview High School. She was a Special Olympian and played Challenger League T-ball. Emily lived her adult life in a Tigard, Oregon home designed and built to enhance her quality of life and spent a portion of each winter in Rancho Mirage, California.

Emily, born with cerebral palsy, developed many other medical and developmental challenges. While her life was difficult, God Blessed Emily with a superpower…an incredibly strong, joyful and loving spirit. Through her exceptional spirit she endured the pain and limitations in her life with courage, a joyful heart and an infectious smile. She derived great joy in the simplest of life’s pleasure. All it took was acknowledgement, humor or a small act of kindness to make her day. She was a role model for finding joy in life regardless of circumstance.

Emily’s spiritual gift was not only for her own benefit. God used it to touch and bless the hearts of family, friends, service providers and strangers. Emily’s courage, tenacity, joy in the face of hardship, humor, kindness, smile and laughter were heartwarming, inspiring and infectious to many blessed to know or even just observe her. Through her spirit and example, without saying a word, Emily had more positive impact on people around her than most without her limitations. She was a blessing to many.

Perhaps Emily’s greatest life impact is the way God used her to create a multi-generational family with deep Christian faith and commitment to serve others. After Emily’s diagnosis, doctors counseled her parents that Emily had no prospect of a fulfilling or purposeful life, she would likely not live to 30 years, and her care would be a stressful burden on her family. Their suggestion to turn Emily’s care over to the state was not an option for her parents who fell in love with her from the moment she was born. God used Emily’s condition and her parent’s desperation to not only change the trajectory and impact of Emily’s life, but those of her parents, brother and his family. Many others’ lives have been touched over the 51 years since. The opportunity to experience first-hand God’s ability to transform multiple lives through Emily has been an amazing blessing to behold. Emily was the heart of our home.

Emily is survived by her parents Shirley and Rodger Glos, brother Derek Glos, sister-in-law Sarah Glos, niece Lily Glos and nephew Trevor Glos. Emily was recently united with her beloved grandparents and sister Carey Melissa Glos who has been awaiting Emily’s arrival in Heaven since 1976. Emily’s life was also blessed by a large and supportive family and many faithful friends.

God’s precious angel among us for nearly 52 years is now home with Him in Heaven.

A Joyful Celebration of Emily’s Life will be held at 10:00 AM on July 11, 2026, at A Jesus Church located at 10500 SW Nimbus Ave, Building T in Tigard, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers family suggests donations in Emily’s memory to Quiet Waters Outreach, a local ministry serving adults with developmental disabilities and their families.