Amy Ross

BISBEE, Ariz. - Amy Elizabeth (Lopez) Ross passed away Oct. 14, 2013, at the Tucson Medical Center from complications of Systemic Lupus. Even through this experience, Amy uplifted her family and husband with indescribable courage, strength and grace. Her impact and contributions to the world are far-reaching and impossible to summarize. Amy was born on Sept. 11, 1973, in Billings. She began playing the piano by ear at the age of 4 and started performing in front of others shortly thereafter. She excelled in academics and music throughout her years in the Tongue River School District in Ranchester, Wyo. Her smile, positivity and sense of humor are contagious, as was her ability to connect with everyone she met. Amy could play and sing literally any song requested and could mine every situation for a joke. Amy was extremely close to her family and an essential part of their lives. Her nieces and nephew adore her and enjoyed getting together frequently, as Amy would allow them to color on themselves with markers, jump energetically on any bed in sight, empty everything out of her purse, and engage in other means of creative and hilarious mischief.

In her early 20s, Amy met and married her husband and soul mate, Derrick Ross of Phoenix, Ariz. The two of them had an extraordinary connection and love and a successful career playing music together as a duo called Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl. Shortly after the loss of Amy, her kind and wonderful sweetheart, Derrick, passed away. It is apparent by the newspaper articles, multiple vigils and ongoing memorials throughout Tucson, Phoenix, Bisbee and other Arizona communities, that this loss is felt deeply. This is also reflected in the hundreds of emails and Facebook posts from fans and friends all over the world.

A friend of Amy's composed a poem that we feel so perfectly embodies her: "Beautiful songbird of comedic candor, dark dreamy mischievous eyes roll up into the ceiling reading the words inside the light fixture, in perfect pitch of lilting swagger, she pipes out the 4,000th genius rendition of anyone's song, her fingers feel the brail of keys and tumble across with soulful ease, she made us laugh, and rock and dance, and sing and feel. We love you and will never forget you."

As a family, we wish to thank our communities for the outpouring of support and prayers. We are so blessed to have more memories of midnight Easter egg hunts, rollerbear challenges, bean boozled matches, family music, roll-on-the-floor laughter, storytelling and pranks than most are blessed with in a lifetime. Our hearts are broken, but we are grateful for the knowledge that we will see Amy and Derrick again. Until then, someone else will finally have a chance to win the Christmas Eve appetizer contest, and our ongoing family game of Battle of the Sexes will continue.

Amy was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Lopez of Sheridan, Wyo.; and followed closely in death by her husband, Derrick Ross of Bisbee, Ariz.

Amy is survived by her mother and stepfather, Ranelle and Phil Kane of Wolf, Wyo.; her brother, Matthew (Cardin) Lopez of Nashville, Tenn.; her sister, Lindy (Jeremy) Nielsen of Riverton, Wyo.; and her sister, Katie (Brent) Carpenter of Billings; her five nieces and one nephew; and many special family members and friends who love her dearly.

Cremation has taken place and no local services will be held. Donations on Amy's behalf can be made to the Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona at 4602 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ 85712 or online at www.lupus-az.org/donate.html.