Amy Torrens-Harry

Amy Torrens-Harry, a witty, smart, loving fashionista made of pure light, left the world a dimmer place on Friday, January 26, 2024. She was 56 years old. Everyone who met her could see the astounding energy escaping through her sparkling eyes and infectious smile; the luckiest of us were those who had her light shining directly on us. She lived a life of lyrics and danced her way through a dazzling personal and professional life. A favorite song never failed to elicit a dance move, even if sometimes she had to keep it on the inside. Amy was Amyzing. Perfectly suited for the spotlight, she preferred to turn attention to other people and help them become their best. A high school cheerleader, college resident advisor, then paralegal, and property manager, Amy hit her seemingly inevitable professional stride when she became a public-school educator and then administrator. In the education environment, she uplifted students and fellow faculty, striving for excellence as she earned her master’s and then her doctorate degrees in education. Dr. Amy had a profound impact on so many lives. Her favorite and best professional work happened as a leader in Teaching and Learning for the Tahoma School District and in her final, dream job as the Director of Teaching and Learning of the Quincy School District. A fellow educator and dear friend described Amy’s greatest professional strengths as “her ability to listen intently, to respond professionally, to offer supporting research, to draw the line when needed, and to continually remind teachers that students are always at the heart of all we do.” She went on to say, “Amy was a bit of a paradox, as she was professional and visionary, a leader unafraid to tackle a thorny issue, a skilled speaker and writer, an innovative problem-solver, a voracious reader who continually acquired new ideas to share, and a workhorse. She was also warm, kind-hearted, funny, humble, and very real. She put on no airs, was who she was, and won friends and supporters in every arena. She was also one of the best coaches I’d ever worked with. She was a master at reflective questioning and could quickly guide a teacher to answer his or her own questions. She led the Tahoma staff members to paradigm shifts and deepened understandings.” While shining her work-hour brilliance on public school educators, Amy’s greatest pride, without a doubt, was raising her two incredible daughters, Emma and Sarah Beasley. Family and friends enjoyed photos and videos of the twins’ performances on stage through dance and theater from their earliest days. Amy was unfailingly proud of everything her daughters did and didn’t do. She considered them her greatest joy and most important collaboration. Amy always said that each of her daughters was her own person and that she was lucky to help guide them into their adult lives. She loved them more than words can describe. More recently, Amy found the romance she deserved with the absolute love of her life, her husband, Tim Harry. His unwavering commitment to her “through sickness and health” and his help in schlepping many tubs of necessaries back and forth across the mountains made her feel, she said, important in his life and so very loved. She was proud to be a stepmother to Tim’s children Austin, Julia, and Ryan Harry—young people she deeply loved and whose company she enjoyed. All five children were with Amy when she passed, a testament to their bonds of love. Amy spoke fondly about her memories of their bustling Maple Valley home with kids heading to activities and the chaos of so much love under one roof. In the midst of raising a family, earning degrees, and working hard, Amy devoured novels and always had good reading recommendations on hand. When possible, she loved to get outdoors and enjoyed dashing up Poo Poo Point in her healthier days. Later, golfing with Tim brought her joy. She loved her dogs Lolly and Skye, and her step-dog, Sadie, with her whole heart. With too many friends to mention adequately here, we can say that her soul sisters and brothers-from-other-mothers know who you are and that you brought such joy, laughter, and love to her life. Her friends span from childhood to people she met through her cancer treatments—she always made such fast and close connections. She fiercely loved you all. Amy recharged her loving light by spending as many hours as possible floating in the summer sun—adrift in the pool with an audiobook and her favorite beverages. She said one of the only benefits of metastatic breast cancer was giving up sunscreen forever. Well, and eating ice cream just because she felt like it. An educator to the end, she would have insisted that everyone reading this account of her life schedule regular mammograms and that everyone should remember that men are diagnosed with breast cancer, too. Prevention, early detection, and awareness were a mantra she offered to anyone who would listen. Feeling the massive hole left in our lives are so many beloved family members: husband, Timothy Harry; daughters, Emma and Sarah Beasley; step-children, Austin, Julia, and Ryan Harry; mother, Susan Torrens; siblings, Cameron Torrens and Max Frazier; grandmother, Elizabeth Richardson; father, Fred Balsiger; great aunt, Dody Pisel; uncle and aunt, Bob and Brenda Richardson; aunt, Trena Richardson; cousins Travis and Megan Richardson; and first cousins, Carla Pisel-Nixon and Rob Nixon, Barb and Lee Wilbur, Denise Hogg, and Paula Richardson. Keeping faith with Amy’s love of the sun, her celebration of life is scheduled for the early afternoon of June 20th outside of Leavenworth. This obituary will be updated with details as they form. People who want to recognize Amy’s important life in some tangible way should feel encouraged to give to the charity of their choice. An organization that felt valuable to Amy was the EASE Cancer Foundation at https://www.easecancer.org/. Celebration of Life - Amy Torrens-Harry -- Zinfandel at the Barn June 20th, 2024 at 2:00pm 205 Jack Pine Lane Leavenworth, WA 98826 Amy never wanted a memorial service. She wanted a celebration. Most of all, she wanted to be there to enjoy it with you all. In honor of her wishes, please join us with family and friends to remember Amy. To spend time laughing, talking, and finding joy in the life of the woman we loved. Thank you to Marci and Mike Scott for hosting this outdoor celebration. Dress is mountain casual. Light refreshments (and Zinfandel) will be served. Please RSVP with the number of your party to Cam Torrens at taorenkai@gmail.com. If you have questions about the event location, local lodging or the Leavenworth area please contact Marci Scott at scott.marci21@gmail.com.