Elizabeth Emily Guest was born 4 August 1877 in Millcreek to Edward Francis Mailon and Jane Walton Guest. When she was just five years old, her mother died in childbirth. Her father had a very difficult time after Jane's death, and never seemed to return to his normal lifestyle. He died when she was nineteen.

The impact of her mother's death was severe. The youngest three, George, Elizabeth and Charles were not allowed to attend the funeral. By the time she was twelve (1889) she had full responsiblility for the home, as her oldest brother and both older sisters had married and her grandmother, who lived next door, died. She once told her niece, Erma Guest Hancock, that "never having the training of the mother, she made a poor job of it. Her sisters-in-law ridiculed her instead of trying to help. (She never forgave them for that. ...I loved her a lot because of the adversities of her youth. She was good to us after my father died.)"

By 1913, Elizabeth had moved to California, being listed as a resident of Los Angeles in her brother, Charles William's obituary. She returned to Salt Lake for the funeral of her brother, John, in 1923, but otherwise was estranged from the Salt Lake family. She became a seamstress and dressmaker. She was listed as a seamstress at various addresses in the Los Angeles City directories in 1924, 1929 and 1930.

Family tradition indicates she was twice married, although the facts of neither are definite. Some suggest she married about 1898 to Ralph Beyle (Boyle?) and later to Ralph Rempel. The 1930 Los Angeles City directory suggests she may have been married and resumed her maiden name, as that year her name is given as Mrs. Elizabeth Guest.

In May 1945, with encouragement from her sister-in-law, Florence Frankland Guest, she was admitted to the Patton State Hospital near San Bernardino, California. Her condition was listed as "psychosis with cerebral arteriosclerosis." At the time of her admission her name was Elizabeth Guest Rempel, but her marital status was "separated;" her husband's name or age were listed as unknown on her death certificate. She remained hospitalized until her death on 27 July 1946.

Her body was returned to Salt Lake City on July 29, and a graveside service was held there at City Cemetery where she was buried 1 August 1946, next to her brother Charles. The Deseret News carried a brief notice of her death, but the "facts" regarding her residence listed there do not agree with the directories or hospital records.