Amy Leigh Benton-Cioper

Amy Leigh Benton-Cioper "Starr" Born at 2:12 a.m., December 4, 1968, in Fort Worth TX, passed at 5:15 a.m., September 25, 2009 in Austin, TX. Amy grew up on the banks of Lake Travis in the Texas Hill Country. Her early years were spent traveling the world, from summers in Cuernavaca, Mexico to winters on thee ski slopes of Colorado. As a beautiful and happy child she walked the streets of Paris, Monte Carlo, Amsterdam and the Greek islands. After graduating from Lago Vista High School she attended the University of Texas at Austin and went on to a career at IBM. But Amy's real love and passion was spent with her band "The Lovers" singing conscious, spirit-raising folk-rock. She was an integral part in organizing for the Flipside art festival, the Austin regional Burning Man, and co-founded the non-profit organization Art Garden to foster the seeds of creativity in all. Playing "cruise director" for many, all the while making every single person feel special, wherever she went people were having fun! On September 24, 2009 she married her sweetheart and soul-mate, Daniel Anthony Cioper, in a magical ceremony. She is survived by Daniel; her mother, Suzanne Nisbet of Austin, TX; father, Bob H. Benton and his wife Linda of Lakeway, TX; her brother, William Eric Benton-Nisbet and his wife Katherine of Austin, Texas; her grandmother, Wilma Moody Nisbet of Houston, TX; her grandfather, William Robb Nisbet, of Cherokee Villiage, Arkansas; as well as a large extended family from all over Texas. For those if us who will never, ever forget her she will live on in our hearts forever more as a shining star. In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation be made in Amy's name to Christopher House -- Hospice of Austin. A private celebration of her life will be held, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Austin.