Amy Lynn Voorhies

Amy L. Voorhies, 32, passed away unexpectedly on August 31, 2019 at her home in Fort Collins. Amy was born on July 31, 1987 in Denver to Mark and Diana Voorhies. Later that same year, the family moved to Fort Collins and Amy had found her dream hometown. She spent the remainder of her life in Fort Collins, graduating from Rocky Mountain High School in 2006 and from Colorado State University in 2011. Her entire work life was also spent in Fort Collins.

Amy's immediate family, and her large extended family, was very important to her. A great number of those family members lived near enough to Fort Collins that Amy was able to spend lots of time around people that she loved, and who dearly loved her in return. Large, combined family get-togethers were particularly important to Amy and those events brought her tremendous joy. Because she loved being with her relatives so much, Amy was one of the family historians. Her powers of observation and keen memory allowed her to record, and play back verbally at later dates, happenings from the many events that brought Mark and Diana's extended families together over the years, including holiday celebrations and an annual family reunion in Missouri. She loved all of her extended family, but she had a special place in her heart for the oldest and the youngest members of our family tree.

From a very early age, it was obvious to all around her that Amy's life's work would be centered on the care and teaching of young children. During her high school years, Amy also developed a passion for helping persons with special needs. While pursuing a degree in early childhood education at CSU, Amy landed a part-time job with BASE Camp, a provider of before and after school enrichment services to elementary school-age children. It was now obvious to all around her, that Amy had found her ideal career path. After a very enjoyable decade of work for BASE Camp, Amy had recently transitioned into a similar role with Young People's Learning Center. Amy poured her heart and soul into her work. She particularly loved to plan and produce individual enrichment programs and to serve as the staff videographer. Since many people have a much harder time finding the work that they will love the most, Amy's family is very grateful that she was able to spend her entire career working with the young children that she so dearly cherished.

Amy's hobbies included watching old sitcoms, making pottery, and reading. And did Amy ever love books, particularly books that she could share with her nieces, her younger cousins, and the children with whom she worked. Amy had an extensive children's literature collection and she took advantage of every opportunity to share her books with her "kids." Amy loved to give books as presents and she always made sure to include a handwritten note to the recipient on the inside cover of the book.

Amy was a lifelong member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and she dearly loved the Church's emphases on the sanctity of life and helping those in need. She also treasured her time leading a Sunday morning religious education program for kindergarten-age members of the church.

Amy is survived by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, 2 cherished nieces and a newborn nephew who was just starting to learn what it meant to be loved by Aunt Amy. Amy is also survived by 3 of her 4 grandparents, each of whom was very special to Amy, and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. Amy was preceded in death by her beloved maternal grandmother.

A Rosary Ceremony will be held on Friday, September 13 at 10 a.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Collins. A Funeral Mass will follow directly thereafter at 11 a.m. A luncheon for attendees will be held in Seton Hall on the parish grounds beginning at 12 p.m.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations of any kind to organizations that support disadvantaged children or persons with special needs would have been very meaningful to Amy.