HikeArizona.COM

I got the sad and very unexpected call from Dennis today. I told
Dennis I would post the details of her funeral and things I know those of us who
loved her would want to know.
As many of you know, Amy's courageous fight with cancer seemed to be going her
way. Around April, her doctor advised her to stop the chemo and go back to
Phoenix for the experimental drug trials. Amy wanted to take a 3 week vacation
with her family...I can just picture her insistence of this. Part way into the
vacation and in Oregon, Amy began to experience lots of pain and so Dennis drove
3 days to Flagstaff where her pain was controlled over the course of week. She
was sent home and her mother came out to be with her. Amy was resting the last
2 weeks in the Grand Canyon Village at her house. Last night, Amy was restless
and Dennis and her mom helped turn her. Dennis said she took 3 breaths and then
passed peacefully. Amy died at 3:30 this a.m., August 19th.

Now here's the cool part. Amy is going to be buried in the Grand Canyon
cemetery. Not a lot folks get that privilege and Amy was really pumped about
it. Her and Dennis walked out and picked out a site....about 75 feet from
William and Emma Bass' gravesite...score Amy. Folks for those of you who might
want to plan a visit to the gravesite in the future, Dennis would be honored. I
have listed his address below.

Amy's service will be this weekend, August 22nd at the Shrine of the Ages
(church by the old visitors center)...Cool again, Amy deserved nothing less.
Viewing for Amy is from 4-5 MST and the funeral is 5-6 MST. Flowers are an
issue at the Grand Canyon for all the reasons including delivering up from
Williams.

Folks, you may not realize this but Amy and Dennis had a mob of kids. Flowers
are just not an option but a trust fund has been set up at the Chase Bank at the
Grand Canyon under Dennis Tacey. All the details have been worked out.

I'd like to challenge her friends and pen pals, those folks she toted out to the
S. Bass trailhead in that honking big pumpkin truck, those she waited on at the
Maswick, those whose lives were just touched with the privilege of knowing such
a spunky, kick-pumpkin person..give something. Dennis asked for nothing. I had to
pull all this out of him. I'm sure the Village there will respond but let's
show our admiration and respect. If you can in these difficult times, even a
little, give a little for Amy because I can damn sure guarantee that Amy would
otherwise be posting this for one of us.

I would also encourage that you drop Amy's family a card. As I mentioned, Amy
had a bunch of kids...precious. This is a difficult time. Let them know you
knew their mom, either at the Canyon, on the road to S. Bass or email (aka the
Hikin'Chick). Send those cards to Dennis Tacey, P.O. Box 1080, Grand Canyon, AZ
86023.

Last, I know that Amy has touched many of us. She was so, so sweet. I'm just
so sad writing this and I don't post often. Rather than reply to this thread
with your stories, for now, just give her family well-wishes and your prayers.
Then I would like to encourage anyone on this group to start a thread of Amy
Tacey Stories that Dennis could print out and her kids could read later. I have
several. So let's just set up a time and date. SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND, POST AN
AMY TACEY STORY. BUT LET'S START AT 6:01 P.M. MST.

Amy, we love you. We're glad your suffering is over. We miss the hell out of
you. We know the Maswick will never be the same. When we get the proverbial
feces from know-it-all bartenders at the Maswick, we will tell them "You
obviously never met Amy Tacey (and when they've heard this enough times, they'll
either get it or deselect)." We know that you are already putting things in
order in your new home. And that the people there are damn glad you
arrived...we can't wait to see you again.