Amy Renee McDonald, 43, of Palisade, Colorado, passed away on September 13, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on May 29, 1983, in Denver, Colorado, Amy spent the first five years of her life in Fort Morgan before moving to Palisade, Colorado, where she spent the remainder of her childhood. She later made her home throughout Grand Junction, where she built her life, raised her children, and created countless memories with the people and animals she loved most.

Amy was, above all else, a mother. She was a fiercely independent, incredibly strong, and devoted single mother who dedicated her life to her five children: Skyler Liegh McDonald, Tamaira Rosaleigh McDonald, Dylan Gregorleigh McDonald, Maleaka Desirae McDonald, and Julius Ryliegh McDonald. Her children were the center of her world, and she would have done absolutely anything for them. In her later years, she especially cherished taking her youngest children on adventures, planning trips, making memories, and simply spending as much time with them as possible.

Amy's strength was unmistakable. She was the kind of person who believed there was nothing she couldn't figure out and very little she couldn't do on her own. She managed a million things at once, often carrying responsibilities that would have overwhelmed most people, yet she continued to put her family first. Her independence, determination, stubbornness, and fighting spirit were all unmistakably hers—and she passed those qualities on to her children.

As a child, she was already a wild, stubborn, and unforgettable spirit. Family stories tell of her stuffing her nose full of candy corn and, on another occasion, somehow getting herself stuck in a washing machine. As she grew older, that same fearless spirit became a fierce loyalty toward the people she loved. Throughout middle school and high school, Amy was never afraid to stand up for her friends and family—even when doing so occasionally landed her in trouble.

Amy attended Palisade High School before leaving school following the birth of her first son, Skyler, and later completed her GED. She went on to earn her CNA license and spent years caring for others. The people she worked with were never simply clients to Amy; many became people she considered family. She also spent more than 20 years working for her mother and stepfather's business, Millennium Services, where she held many different roles over the years, including driver, dispatcher, scheduler, and billing specialist. Whatever the job required, Amy found a way to make it work.

Amy had an adventurous heart. She loved traveling and road trips, and one of her greatest dreams was to purchase an RV and travel to all 50 states. Although she never quite completed that goal, she came remarkably close. She drove through and visited most of the country, including countless road trips to Chicago to visit her daughter, Tamaira. Those trips were rarely just about getting from one place to another—Amy loved turning the journey itself into an adventure. She would stop in different states along the way, explore nearby places, and sometimes extend a trip into an epic journey lasting more than 24 hours each way.

She also had a deep love for all things creative and crafty, a passion that was first kindled through time spent with her beloved aunt, Abigail. Amy enjoyed painting, making collages, coloring, and finding new ways to create something with her hands. Her creativity was another reflection of the way she approached life: with curiosity, individuality, and a willingness to make something her own.

There were also certain things that were simply Amy. She loved sunglasses and was rarely seen without at least one pair. She loved her animals fiercely, and her dog Sasha was never merely a pet—Sasha was one of her children. Although Amy never got the opportunity to become the grandmother she dreamed of being, she had a whole herd of fur grandbabies whom she loved dearly: Kobe, Jordan, Pau, Gasol, Snow, Dorothy, and Rainbow.

Amy is preceded in death by her father, Ronnie Eugene McDonald; her son, Dylan Gregorleigh McDonald; her brother, Troy Ryan Kirchoffner; her uncle, Carl Henry Shoup; her uncle, Rick Warren Kauffman; her chosen grandmother, Alyce Morgan Davis; and honorary family members Karen Sue Garcia, Pamela Ida Owen, and Sharon Kay Scott.

She is survived by her mother, Rose Ann Romero (née Shoup); her children, Skyler, Tamaira, Maleaka, and Julius; her siblings, Jamie Desirae Shoup and Scott Allan Kirchoffner; her beloved aunt, Abigail Jean Shoup; and the many family members, friends, and loved ones whose lives she touched.

Amy's life was not defined by the challenges she faced, but by the way she faced them. She was strong when life demanded strength, stubborn when someone needed to stand their ground, adventurous when there was somewhere new to go, creative when there was something to make, and fiercely loving whenever someone she cared about needed her.

She leaves behind children who carry her fighting spirit, her independence, her resilience, her stubbornness, her forgiveness, and her enormous capacity to love. Though she will never get to take that RV across all 50 states or become the grandmother she dreamed of being, the memories she created, the lessons she taught, and the love she gave will continue through the people and animals she leaves behind.

Memorial Service

A memorial service celebrating Amy's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Downtown Vineyard Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. An optional viewing will be held beginning at 1:00 p.m., with refreshments served following the service. Amy will be cremated at a later date following the service.

The family welcomes anyone who wishes to come and celebrate Amy's life. More than anything, they ask that friends, family, and loved ones simply be present—to share memories, offer support, and show Amy's children how deeply their mother was loved.

Those wishing to help Amy's family during this time are welcome to contribute dinner or other meals for her children. Donations of money, flowers, or food for the service are also deeply appreciated. Tamaira (Rosaleigh) McDonald can be contacted through Facebook or by email at tamairaRmcdonald@gmail.com for anyone wishing to offer assistance.

Above all, the family asks that you come, remember Amy, tell her stories, laugh about the memories, and celebrate the remarkable woman she was.