Amy Watkins Kensley

Amy Watkins Kensley, whose love and laughter were as wide as the Utah skies under which she was born, passed away in Monument Valley, Utah, leaving behind a legacy of joy and education. Born on May 17, 1966, in Blanding, Utah, to the late Richard Ivan and Marieann Martineau Watkins, Amy was a beacon of light who believed that every day was a good day to be hilarious. Amy's journey through life was as colorful and memorable as her classroom decorations. She pursued a theater arts degree at Ricks College, which might explain her flair for the dramatic and her ability to capture the attention of her young students. After transferring to Weber State University, she earned a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Elementary Education, a title almost as long as a school lunch line. She began her teaching career in a charming two-room schoolhouse in Halls Crossing, Utah, where she learned that teaching several grades at once was akin to herding cats, but twice as rewarding. After marrying James Otto Kensley and giving birth to their son Michael, she took on the role of substitute teacher at Blanding Elementary with the grace of a swan and the reflexes of a ninja-essential for dodging flying spitballs. When the call came to teach in Mexican Hat, Utah, Amy donned her metaphorical explorer's hat and set off on a new adventure, because who wouldn't want to work in a place named after a whimsical piece of headwear? In 2011, she was over the moon to help open a new elementary school in Monument Valley, Utah, where she continued to teach, inspire, and occasionally start food fights in the cafeteria until her passing. Amy's interests were as eclectic as her son (and wheelchair engine) Michael's collection of funny hats. She loved reading, teaching her "babies," and making everyone around her erupt into laughter with her perfectly timed jokes. Her attempts at cross-stitch were valiant, but let's be honest, she was more of an artist of the soul, painting the world with her humor and compassion. She is survived by her adoring son, Michael Kensley, who inherited her wit and her inability to pass up a good pun. Amy also leaves behind a squad of siblings: Lloyd (Jeanette) Watkins, Harley (Amy) Watkins, Lois Walker, Jan (Gary) Podris, and Ivy (Zeek) Kropf. Her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews will miss Aunt Amy. Preceding her in death were her parents, her ex-husband Jim, her sister Marie, and her left foot. In life, Amy was described as loving, funny, and kind-a triple threat in the world of elementary education. Whether she was cheering on her friends, family, or the underdog in a book, Amy's enthusiasm was contagious. Today, while the halls of her beloved TES are a bit quieter without her, the echoes of her laughter will continue to inspire joy for years to come, and we are grateful that her body is free from pain at last.