Amy Joelle Oyler buggered-off from her beautiful mortal existence on 24 August, 2021, following a long painful battle with chronic health issues. Born in Tremonton, Utah, on 26 September, 1965, she was a mere 55. But one would never know from her youthful demeanor, but also immense library of life stories, making her seem both 25 and 125 at the same time.
She was the baby girl of her lovely and loving mother Dee Ann Oyler (Nebeker) and proud, sweet father Louis DeWald. She was also the crowing mother of four adoring children: Thomas Dain Colby (aka “The Crachette”, 37), Dakota Blue Colby (aka “Beenzer”, 30), India Jade Renwick (aka “Geeta”, 27), and Chancie Moon Beck (aka “Noodle”, 24). Ever so proud of him, it would be remiss not to mention also Conner “Son-in-Law Machine” Beck.
Always the enthusiastic aspiring grandma, she frequently and quite colorfully encouraged each to give her some grandkids… but only two of them actually listened to her. Dakota gave her Isaiah in 2013, and Chancie gave her Cyson in 2016 and Addilyn in 2019. As that wasn’t nearly enough grandkids for her liking, she found herself “adopting” countless neighborhood children, each lovingly calling her “grandma.”
She was also the admired sister of Lisa, Alan, & Daran Reeves, Marty Oyler, and of adopted siblings Mark, Matt, & Maurine DeWald. An adopted Oyler herself, she was also the eclectic step-daughter of Jack Oyler.
Family was everything to her, and she had no problem welcoming anyone as a member of her family who needed one. Countless people from Utah, Washington, and Idaho were all considered good-as-family by her, and likewise. Entirely too many too mention, her loving impact was far-reaching, deep, and profound.
Even though raised in a quite proper, orderly, and somewhat strict household, being “normal” or “compliant” was never in her repertoire. Always different, eccentric, colorful, and full of ideas that would shock most of the good folks of the 70s and 80s, she definitely found her own way. From very early on, everyone knew she was just going to be different. She proved them all correct at every opportunity, living her life her own way, always the brightest colored bird with the craziest feathers in her family and friends.
Having never married and generally finding cohabitating with even the best of men who loved her dearly to be amusingly quite intolerable (so sorry, Steve!), she lived the life of a rock star, making ends meet as a waitress, while still managing to raise four kids on her own. Truly encountering some difficult years in her 20s and 30s, struggling with severe depression and anxiety, she overcame it all to become one of the most beautiful, fun, and loving people one might ever hope to know. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for anyone, even if it were to her detriment. Having conquered the worst of her demons, her top priorities always seemed to lie in making people smile, and doing all she could to make sure those who were struggling like she once did were always okay.
Those who loved her will always remember her loving devotion to all animals, and the dozens upon dozens of cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, rodents, and aquatic friends she welcomed into her home during the course of her life. Those who adored her will also never forget her daily need for milk and pickles, giving everyone unique nicknames, her unfiltered frank discourse, and intense unrestrained need to keep everyone on their toes by always shocking whatever audience she could find… and the laughter that would follow those moments, and so many others.
She loved sharing her happiness with the world, and will be eternally and deeply missed by all those she left entirely too early. Of her family, only her father preceded her in death, having buggered-off himself in 2011. As for all the rest of us, we miss her dearly already and will always remember her fondly and with a deep and profound love one could only have for someone as unique as Amy. There has never been another one like her, nor shall there ever be, and we all feel profoundly blessed to have been able to call her one of our own, be it daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, or friend.
A celebration of her life will be held on 2 October, 2021, in her long-time home of Twin Falls, Idaho, at the Rosaneau community room at 2826 Addison Ave E. The shenanigans will get started at 2PM. While this is indeed a time of profound loss, it will be a light-hearted, informal affair, and everyone is encouraged to show up looking and acting like Amy would have appreciated and wanted in life. Her family would love to see everyone who she touched and to hear your stories.
--Dain, 23 September, 2021.