Amy Ruth Bennett passed away in her sleep during the early hours of Nov 29, 2023, at home under the loving care of her devoted husband, Donald Edward Strong.  Amy was 58 years old, having been born on Aug 9, 1965, the youngest of ten children of June Ekstrom Bennett and Dr. Forest Glen Bennett of Milwaukie, Oregon.

Amy was much loved and protected as the youngest child and a surprise baby; her next youngest sister was almost three years old at the time.  Her father was a stern WWII vet, typical for that time, not given to displays of affection, but the family albums have photos of him cuddling his newborn daughter against his neck, which was wonderful to see, but surprising to her older siblings.  Her large family had moved from their overcrowded house in the West Hills of Portland near the Medical School to a large old Mediterranean estate on top of a hill in the Waverley neighborhood of Milwaukie a few years before Amy was born.  It was big enough that everyone had their own bedroom, and Amy absolutely loved that house with its immense lawn and flower gardens and tree swings.  She thought of it as her own personal fairy castle and never forgave the rest of us for selling it - as she reminded us for the next 40 years.  The house had a deep, dangerous indoor swimming pool, which was emptied before Amy was old enough to walk and not filled again until she was a teenager, because her parents could not stand the idea that she might have an accident.

As a child growing up in her secluded hill-top sanctuary, Amy began to display the traits of unself-conscious joy and kindness that so endeared her to all who knew her.  She started sketching and drawing at 3 years old and rapidly developed a natural talent for simple, elegant lines.  Early on she devoted endless hours to drawing eyes with beautiful, cat-like lashes and brows of every imaginable style, followed by striking faces and flowing hair.  She had favorite models, such as Lieutenant Uhura of Star Trek and progressing to others like her idol Tina Turner.  Amy loved birthday parties, anyone's, but especially her own.  Even as an adult, we could count on subtle reminders that Aug 9th was just around the corner.  Amy was generous with birthday and Christmas cards for all of us.

Besides her art, Amy had other talents such as her photographic memory.  For decades she could remember astounding details about the "Cambridge House" and events that took place there.  She'd remind me about some dinner we had 15 years before and as I struggled to recall anything, she's start describing what each of us wore that night and what I'd had for dinner.  On the rare times where anyone else could remember the event, she was invariably right about the details.

Amy had quirky behaviors at times, but they tended to only make her more endearing.  One I recall is her mother struggling with how to discipline Amy on the rare occasions when she felt something was needed.  You might think that the connection between crime and punishment would be inherently obvious to all people, as I did, but you'd be wrong.  During her pre-teen years, Amy would reply with astonished outrage anytime she was disciplined.  She would invariably go into a huge sad face, with her lower lip stuck out, and end with the phrase, "Why are you so mean to me?"  The infractions were always minor, such as the time that she thought her pet hamster would surely like to learn to fly.  After a couple of attempts with no serious damage to the hamster, but clear indications that he was not happy about it, her poor mother tried to explain why Amy had to sit in the corner until she learned not to hurt her hamster.  Logically Amy understood that it was wrong, but not at all what that had to do with her punishment.  I recall her mom trying so hard to be serious and biting her lip since this was a serious crime, after all, and not a laughing matter, but in the end giving up and giving Amy a big hug, having to settle for Amy's reluctant promise not to do it again.

After her parents divorced, Amy lived for six more years with her mother in her new (much less cool) house until she graduated from Oregon City High School in 1985. After that she started working at various jobs and continuing her hobbies, which included Japanese tea ceremonies with all of the ritual and elegant silk gowns.  Amy was always lucky to have wonderful friends who often stayed in touch for many years.  They were all kind, gentle people.

Later in life, Amy met her soul companion, Don Strong, whom she married and lived with until her death.  She and Don moved from Oregon City, where she had lived for many years, to southern Oregon, eventually to the sleepy little road-side community of Idleyld (pronounced Idle-Wild) Park on the Umpqua River where the white-water river leaves the valley and goes into the steep mountain canyon on it's way up to Crater Lake.

Don shared Amy's love of cats and good food and good times.  He was always able to do just the right thing to help Amy, no matter her mood.  Don stayed by her side and was her primary care giver to honor her wish that she remained at home until the end with the minimum amount of medical intervention, which he did.  Amy faced her last days with courage and dignity.

As one of her sisters said,

"She always thought about others and always sent everyone Christmas and Birthday gifts that were personalized. She was beautiful on the inside and out and much loved by all her family and friends."

Amy was preceded in death by her parents and two of her older sisters.  She was survived by her sisters Laura, Diane, Becky, Sandra, and Jan; and by her brothers Ron and Bruce.

A Memorial service will be held at Columbia Aviation Association at the Aurora Airport Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. A private burial will be held at a later date.