Funeral Services for Christyl (Emme) Kelly, age 46 of Battle Creek, IA formerly of O'Neill, Nebraska, will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the O'Neill Methodist Church in O'Neill. Burial will follow in the Paddock Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill, with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Christyl passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill.

Christyl was born on January 27, 1977 in O'Neill, NE to Arthur 'Butch' Emme and Marilyn (Miller) Murphy. She graduated from Spencer-Naper High School in Spencer, NE in 1995. After graduation, she attended National American University in Rapid City, SD where she earned her degree in Veterinary Technology. Christyl later continued her education at SDSU in Brookings, SD. In 2005, she received her degree in Animal Science.

She worked for Veterinary clinics in Neligh, NE, Huron, Gregory, Burke and Sioux Falls, SD before working in the feed lab at DFS in Newell, IA. Most recently, she has been working for herself in Ag sales in Iowa.

Christyl had a gift for taking care of animals, especially babies. She could nurse various lambs and calves back to health. Her latest project was an orphaned foal named Captain.

She enjoyed trail rides, barrel racing, Disney movies, gardening, and working various woodworking projects. But above all, she loved spending time with her nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her fiancé, Brent Riessen of Battle Creek, IA; brother, Curt (Alexa) Emme of O'Neill; sister, Jenna (Dustin) Slaymaker of O'Neill; brother, Matt (Jadelyn) Murphy of O'Neill; nieces, Serenity Murphy and Autumn Emme; nephews, Kaden Murphy, Nathaniel Sidak, and Alex (Lydia) Fuhrer; great niece, Octavia; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Butch Emme and Marilyn Murphy; and grandparents, Cecil and Mattie Miller and Willard and Norma Emme.