Amy Lou Eckstrom's Obituary
AMY LOU ECKSTROM 1918 - 2002Amy Lou Eckstrom, a lifelong resident of Tacoma, passed away November 30, 2002, after a brief illness. Born February 21, 1918, Amy Lou was the eldest child of Tacoma benefactors Lowell Thomas and Helen Bailey Murray and spent the majority of her life in Tacoma, Lakewood and Palm Desert, California pursuing her love of golf. During her youth, and even into her senior years, Amy LouÂ's beautiful swing and steady game won numerous amateur and club championships, including multip- le championships at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club and Marrekesh Country Club in Palm Desert, California. She had her seventh hole-in-one on her 80th birthday, which was witnessed by her two oldest grandsons. This prowess earned her a seat on the prestigious United States Golf Association WomenÂ's Committee, where she served for many years. She was always so proud to have beaten JoAnne Gunderson Carner in the semi-finals of the 1957 Pacific Northwest Golf Association WomenÂ's Amateur tournament. The golf gene evidently runs through the female side of the Murray Family, as Amy LouÂ's mother, sister, daughter and even daughter-in-law are and were golfers of note and club champions. Amy Lou graduated from the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA and studied at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Drama was another great love, having performed in plays at the Tacoma Little Theatre and the Lakewood Players. She chaired the 1947 Junior League of TacomaÂ's Follies and performed in skits with the Aloha Club, where she served as President in 1967-68. Travel was another love of Amy LouÂ's, particularly ocean cruises. She could boast that there were very few sights she had not seen. Her last cruise was in 2001 along the coast of Vietnam with side trips into Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Amy Lou was an active volunteer in Pierce County throughout her lifetime, serving on the boards of the Tacoma Art Muse- um, Junior League of Tacoma, Guild #10 Orthopedic Guild and the American Heart Board, where she co-chaired the last gala held in Union Station before it was closed and re-opened years later as a Federal courthouse. She also served as Â"Miss Golden JubileeÂ" in 1938, celebrating TacomaÂ's 50 years as a city. Amy Lou is preceded in death by husbands Robert Moore Young and Charles Thomas Eckstrom. She is survived by her sister Anne M. Barbey of Portland, brother L.T. Murray, Jr. (Catherine), son David Murray Young (Barbara) and a daughter, Lowell Anne Butson (Jack), all of Lakewood. She is also survived by grandchildren David M. Young, Jr. (Morika), Matthew H. Young, Todd M. Butson (Jennie), Amy M. Butson, as well as many great nieces, nephews and stepchildren. The family would like to thank Hospice and Amy LouÂ's care-givers, particularly Susan Kim, whose dedication and care was of great comfort to us all. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 PM Saturday, December 7th in Mt. View Valley Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial do-nations may be made in her name to the Tacoma Art Museum, 1123 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, 98402; or the Helen B. Murray Oncology Foundation, 314 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
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