Emily Joy Lehning

Emily Joy Lehning, 32, passed away peacefully at home on April 30, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer. Words cannot express how much she is already missed.

Emily was born on March 4, 1994 in Carmichael, California. Her family moved to Idaho when she was young and she enjoyed a wonderful childhood in Boise. As a child, Emily was bright, curious, and fun loving. Her middle name, “Joy,” was fitting, as she brought so much joy to her family and friends. She gave her life to the Lord when she was young, and her faith was a thread throughout her life that continued to provide her with great comfort over this past year.

As a child and teenager, Emily participated in many different sports and activities. Some favorites included the Fairmont swim team, the National History Day competition, the Centennial High swim team, the Centennial High marching band, and a mission trip to Honduras. She also dearly loved family vacations to Harstine Island in the Puget Sound each summer.

In her early teens, Emily was inspired to volunteer with Guide Dogs for the Blind. As in everything she did, Emily was conscientious, dedicated, and gave her best effort. She raised two beautiful puppies, Donna and Arrow, who later served successfully as guide dogs for many years.

Emily graduated from Centennial High School in 2012, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Biology and Spanish from Boise State University. While attending Boise State, Emily met Jared Lehning, the love of her life. Following their graduation in 2016, Emily and Jared were married in Boise. Soon after, they moved to Texas where Emily pursued a master’s degree in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, and then began her career as a school psychologist with the Pflugerville Independent School District.

During these early years of marriage, Emily and Jared became an incredible team who worked hard, loved each other deeply, and enjoyed adventuring together. They bought their first house during COVID, raised their rescue puppy Ranger, discovered a love of home projects, and explored the outdoors often. After five years in Texas, they returned to Idaho to live closer to family, and Emily worked as a school psychologist for the West Ada School District. She was a devoted educator who cared deeply for the students and families she served, and she built lasting friendships with many of her colleagues.

Emily and Jared welcomed their son, Isaac, in 2023. Emily’s family brought her so much joy, and she and Jared loved the journey of being parents together. Emily cherished motherhood, was thankful for her life, and did not take anything for granted. In August of 2025, to their great sorrow, their beloved daughter, Molly Joy, was stillborn and Emily’s cancer battle began.

Emily is survived by her husband, Jared W. Lehning; her son, Isaac W. Lehning; her parents, Todd and Lisa Cutler; her siblings, Stacia (Brian) Pratt, Samuel Cutler, and Michelle (Shayne) Miller. She is also survived by many dear family members and friends who will miss her very much.

A celebration of Emily’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Hilltop Community Church, 4440 E. Columbia Road, Meridian, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the existing GoFundMe account. All future donations will be placed into a college fund for Isaac.