Emily married Thomas McReynolds on May 9, 1980, and she carried that devotion into every part of her life—as a wife, mother, Nana, and friend whose steady presence could be counted on. Her care for others was expressed not in grand gestures, but in the consistent warmth of showing up, listening closely, and making room for the people she loved most.
Her days were brightened by the pursuits that spoke to her thoughtful spirit: yoga, classical music, a good glass of wine, and crossword puzzles—always in ink. She also delighted in the cultural life of Wichita, enjoying events at Botanica, evenings at Chamber Music at the Barn, performances at the Orpheum Theatre, and time spent visiting with friends at The Monarch.
Emily dedicated many years of service to Wichita State University, working in Personnel/Research and Development from 1973 until her retirement in 2006.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Mary Palmer; her brother, Michael Bowman.
Emily is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 46 years, Tom McReynolds; her daughters, Anne (Kerry) Gibson and Sarah (Mark) Birchfield; her grandchildren: Paul McGuire, Ellen (Chris Urban) McGuire, Madeline (Tyler Bridgewater) Lopez, Noah (Bailey) Birchfield and Amelia Birchfield; her great-grandchildren, Yvette Urban and Baby girl Birchfield due October 2026.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at College Hill United Methodist Church, 2930 E 1st St N, Wichita, KS 67214.
