Emry, Leisel J. passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at her home in Wildwood, MO.  She was born on June 15, 1971, at St. John's Hospital, as the second child of Donna and Jack Emry. She grew up in St. Louis County, attended Elementary, Middle, and High School in the Parkway School District, and graduated from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman University).  In 2004 she received a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Missouri.

Elementary education was her career of choice, and her first certification was in Texas where she taught three years in Irving. She returned to Missouri in 2000 where she taught in the New Madrid School District for two years.  In 2002 she became a first grade teacher at John Weldon Elementary School in the Francis Howell School District and taught there for the next 24 years.

In 2005 she earned her National Board Certification Specializing in Children's Literature.

Leisel had many diverse interests.  She loved to travel and visited as many  National Parks as possible.  She could plan driving trips that were very interesting and exhausting for her fellow travelers.  One special trip in 2006 was to China to be present at her niece's adoption.  She loved music and was a member of Chancel Choir at Manchester United Methodist Church.  She so appreciated her choir family and their support.   As a youth she was a member of the Parkway West Marching Band, she traveled with the MUMC Senior High Choir on various choir trips, participated in multiple MUMC missionary trips to Hinton, NC, and was active in the MUMC Youth Photography Club.  Other interests included attending theater presentations, crocheting (and was a member of the MUMC Prayer Shawl Ministry), scrapbooking, and reading to name just a few.

Particular joys in her life were her two nieces and nephew and planning holiday celebrations for them.  As she used to say, I can be the fun aunt. The parents can do the disciplining.

Her family remembers her as a graceful warrior as she battled breast cancer in 2015 followed by her most recent battle with ovarian cancer starting in 2024.  She refused to give up and believed with all her heart that she had lived an ordinary/extraordinary life.  She is survived by her parents Donna and Jack Emry, her sister Deidre and niece Lia, and her brother Joshua and nephew Owen and niece Paige.

Services: Her ashes will be privately interred at Manchester UMC Columbarium/Niche. A Celebration of Life/Memorial at the FAMILY CENTER at SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin is planned for Friday, April 10, 2026 from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to MUMC Worship Arts Endowment Fund , Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance or Pink Ribbon Good-Support PRG's mission . Friend's may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.