Amy Elizabeth Sudlow
Share
Amy was born on August 23, 1964 in Lawrence, KS to Robert and Lillian Sudlow (Gehb). She died on February 24, 2019 at the University Of Kansas Hospital. Amy was diagnosed with cancer (Multiple Myeloma) in 2015 and she fought it valiantly and to the fullest of her abilities.
Memorial services for Amy will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 1, 2019 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Amy leaves behind her husband, Ronald D. Smith and a son, Quentin. She also is survived by her mother, Lillian; sisters Gretchen and Mitzi; a brother, Peter, and a niece, Rachael. Amy was preceded in death by her father.
Amy attended Lawrence Schools. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1982. She was most interested in Biology and one of her favorite and most inspirational teachers was Stan Roth.
Amy received a degree from Kansas State University in Horticulture specializing in Retail Floriculture. She met Ronald D. Smith, Manhattan, KS, in 1985 while attending Kansas State University. They married on July 29, 1995 in Davenport, California at Greyhound Rock. They have one son, Quentin. The family had many wonderful trips to the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Amy’s youth was formed through her travels with her family and she spent many summers on the coast of California in Berkeley, near her grandparents’ home, and near Santa Cruz. She spent many summers camping with her father, near the coast, near Davenport, California. Her father deeply influenced her love for nature, all creatures and being outside. She loved day trips to the ocean and hiking in the hills north of Santa Cruz. She later spent summers with her family near Lake Champlain near Westport, New York where she hiked the Adirondack Mountains and frequently swam in Lake Champlain. She traveled with her family to Ireland and many other countries.
Amy worked for the Peruvian Connection (Tonganoxie, KS) as the Catalog, Web Content and Public Relations Manager. She coordinated the catalog photo shoots and routinely traveled to South America, Mexico, Central America, Greece, Italy and many other locations in the United States and other countries. She worked for Peruvian Connection for 27 years and cherished the friendships she made there. She was very interested in the culture, customs and the people of the countries she traveled.
Amy was well loved by family and friends. She loved flowers, landscaping and working in her gardens. She particularly loved spending time with Quentin outside. She had a passion for plants, animals and birds. She always had a large vegetable garden, chickens and many other pets. Amy was a compassionate person and rescued many animals.
Memorial contributions can be made to Operation Wildlife, Linwood, Kansas and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
The battle she fought was a hard one. A great loss for many. Prayers for the family as you navigate toward peace.
I first met Amy while working for Alex R. Massons in Linwood. She was such a kind and beautiful person. Years later I would run into Amy and Ron downtown. They were both always so full of life. Wonderful people.
My heart goes out to family and friends. We will miss you Amy! R.I.P.
We love you so much. My heart breaks for you guys! Love Brooke and Brandon Kesinger
Amy was a kind, gentle, compassionate person. She will be missed, but remembered with warmth and fondness.
Ron and Quentin,
We are so sorry for your loss. Amy was such kind, upbeat, lovely person to be around. She will be very missed by all that new. Love and hugs to you as you travel through this difficult time.
Ron, Quentin, Pete, Gretchen, Mitzi, Lillian and extended family and friends.
My heart goes out to you all. Am so sorry for your loss. She was an amazing woman, one I admired greatly.
I send my very deepest condolences, sympathy and prayers to Amy’s family and friends and classmates. She was always so polite and helpful. I’m deeply saddened by her passing. Amy we will see each other again one day. RIP Amy.
I was in school with Amy from the very start. The descriptions here — all so accurate — were true all the way back. She was always kind and sweet and compassionate and quiet and lovely. When they started teaching us dance — in fifth grade, I think — Amy and I were assigned as partners. She was the first girl I danced with. I distinctly remember noting it at the time, and telling myself, “You’re going to look back on this and know you got really lucky with your first dance partner.” Yep. I was right. Sure did. It is still so bittersweet to remember Amy’s shy, lovely, warm smile, but I am, and I always will. To the family she leaves behind, my deepest condolences.
We met Amy while working. She was such a wonderful person, super kind and helpful. We were so lucky.
We soon realized that our epistolary relationship started to mean more than just a professional correspondence and at the end, we were just happy to talk.
Because she was a smart, sweet woman. And the toughest: our example of bravery and perseverance.
We are going to miss our favourite pen-friend’s moments. We are already.
Fred, Fred and Céline extend our deepest sympathy and most sincere condolences to Amy’s family, her husband and her beloved son.
To the family:
I worked with Amy at Mr. Steak around 1984! She was such a kind and gentle human! I am so sorry for your loss..
My thoughts are with the family as you go through this time of sadness. No words can feel your sadness, or void. But perhaps the wonderful memories you each have of Amy can help with this grief. Keep her memories alive in your hearts, because that is where she will always stay. You are free Amy of the pains of this world, rest in peace.
My best memories of Amy are from the middle 80s when she visited here . She will be missed. She is still with us in our memories. Our thoughts are with you.
My heartfelt condolences to Amy’s family. I remember Amy vividly and we developed a friendship during grade and junior high school especially. Among her many gifts, Amy was a good artist. I remember sitting next to Amy doing some wierd grade school project—some kind of tin-foil-covered relief. While I made an indecipherable blob, Amy made a beautiful toucan! I learned that day that some people are artists and other people are not! I will always remember Amy as an exceptionally gentle, sensitive, and uniquely talented person. The world needs more people like Amy and she is gone far, far too soon. .
So sorry for your loss. My condolances.
Amy was such a loving and giving person. She will be greatly missed.
Amy was my friend in grade school, Junior high, and till I moved away in the eleventh grade in high school. She was like a gentle breeze on a warm day. She was like the fragrance of lilacs thru an open window. She was as lovely as a field of heather. None of us know how many days we have left in this world. But may we tread lightly on our planet and beautify this world with kindness as Amy did. She was a gift to everyone that knew her. May God have mercy on her soul and comfort all her loved ones.