Ember Lyne Painter

Ember Lyne Painter was born on July 10, 2026. She spent ten perfect and beautiful days with her family, and on July 20, she left her mother’s arms and entered into the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ.

Ember was diagnosed with anencephaly while in utero; once she was born, her lifespan was expected to be mere hours. However, our sweet little girl defied all odds. Of her ten days with us, seven were spent in our home where she was surrounded by nothing but love and endless hugs and kisses from her siblings, who adored their baby sister with the purest of hearts.

Our choice to carry Ember and continue the pregnancy despite her diagnosis was not easy; we have felt much grief, heartache, and worry in the last months. But we would do it all one hundred times over for her.

By God’s grace, we were able to do so many things with Ember that we never dreamed we would, and the beauty and simplicity of her time with us will always be treasured. She was held by our closest family and friends. She relaxed outside in her boppy pillow while her siblings played on the swingset. She made it to a Painter family dinner. She was right beside us while we did the nighttime routine of dinner, bath, and bedtime with our other children. She saw the sunshine, heard the birds chirp in the morning, and breathed air outside of a hospital room. By God’s grace, our Ember lived, and she lived fully and wonderfully.

Ember’s light will forever flicker in our lives. Though short, her life was whole and valuable; she was fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and her soul is resting in eternity with Him. Because of the hope we have in Jesus, she is waiting for her family to greet her in our everlasting home. God is good. He answers prayers. And He gives abundant and everlasting life, as He did with our baby girl. We pray that the life of our Ember will spark in others a desire for such a reunion and for everlasting life with our Lord in Heaven.

She is survived by her parents, Ben and Aubrey (Hand) Painter, two brothers, Elliot and Ezra, and a sister, Ella. Ember is also survived by her grandparents, Dan and Bobbie (Palm) Painter, Todd Hand and Lisa Williams, and Kim (Foreman) Rose, along with her aunt and uncle, Max and Beth (Painter) Kilgore and her cousin, Kit Kilgore.

Ember is preceded in death by her cousin, Wilk Kilgore.

A private graveside service for Ember will be held on Friday, July 24, where she will be laid to rest beside her cousin, Wilk, and be surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation on our family farm.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sufficient Grace Ministries. This organization has been a blessing to our family and many others who face a life limiting diagnosis for their babies; their work is a testament to the grace, love, and care we are to show those who are hurting as is commanded by God’s word. https://sufficientgraceministries.org/