Amanda Denise Beckendorf, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 19, 2019. She is survived by her beloved husband Chris Beckendorf of Mims, FL; Chris' mother and father, Gayle and Bruce, brothers Aaron and Ben and their families, her father and mother Alan and Mary Ann Avery of Hagerstown, Indiana; siblings, Emily, Molly, Morgan and Quentin and their families. Amanda left a legacy of love and laughter with many friends and family, who love her and miss her very much. Amanda rejoices now with Jesus and prays for us in the communion of saints.

Amanda was born on June 19, 1986, in Fort Ord, California, to Mary Ann O'Malley Avery and Alan Avery. She grew up as the second oldest of five children moving around the United States and internationally while her father served in the Army. At age 12, her family moved to Winter Springs, Florida, where she attended middle school and high school. During that time she was involved in 4-H, chorus, theatre, dance, and church volunteer groups. She graduated from Winter Springs High School in May 2004. She went on to earn an Associates Degree at Central Florida School of Massage Therapy.

While studying, Amanda met the love of her life, Chris Beckendorf, introduced by mutual friends at a Star Wars-themed party and they quickly became inseparable. Shortly after, they were married on March 11, 2006. They moved several times around Central Florida until Chris was brought to Knoxville for a job. There, Amanda found a love for the city of Knoxville and the state of Tennessee. They enjoyed many adventures camping, hiking, kayaking, and driving through the Great Smoky Mountains. While in Tennessee, Chris and Amanda joined Chris's parent's family-owned business. Eventually, the family business brought them back to Florida, and they made a new home in the small town of Mims, Florida. Amanda was able to trade the mountains for the beach and could continue her outdoor adventures walking, biking, and kayaking.

Although this explains where Amanda lived and worked, it does not quite illustrate who Amanda fully was—a beautiful and creative person who affected every single person she met. She loved to sing and dance to all types of music. She enjoyed the arts and tried her hand at several different mediums, such as singing, guitar, piano, acting, directing, collage, and more. Amanda fostered and adopted several dogs, cats, birds, lizards...
and a llama. She was a talented cook and a foodie, creating and recreating masterful dishes for large parties, family and close friends, and always sharing tips and recipes with those who asked or her many followers on social media. She was funny and a great story teller, making you feel lighter for laughing at her anecdotes and enthralled as if you were there with her when it happened. She was generous. Amanda always gave the most intentional and loving gifts at birthdays and Christmas or just because she was thinking about you. She was a compassionate person who (with Chris) dropped everything to help you and pray with you. Amanda was kind. She made sure to let you know how she felt about you and found ways to lift you up with her words.

Amanda was an exceptional person. Life forged in her the remarkable and rare traits of a woman who affected every single person she met. No one who met her could ever forget her; and no one who knew her remained unchanged. Her lightning wit, her limitless sense of perception, and a great share of wisdom and empathy uncommon for her age, nurtured in her a fierce and defiant love for all those in her life. Amanda's three nieces and six nephews thought of her as their personal angel. May they continue to believe it all their days, for it is true.

The Lord is faithful. He is our first and our last Hope. Jesus promised He would be with us even to the end of the Age. Amanda staked everything she knew on His Love, the one perfect Love immeasurable. Amanda knew the Love of God's Son. She never gave up on Him. He never abandoned her.

So many countless, brilliant memories of her resplendent joy remain with us to shine in our hearts through the years to come, until we are drawn together into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. We know that we are to meet again.

Amanda Denise Beckendorf, June 19, 1986 – July 19, 2019. Cherished wife of Christopher Beckendorf. Beloved daughter of Alan and Mary Ann O'Malley Avery; venerated daughter to Bruce and Gayle; adored sister of Emily and Jacob, Molly and Josh, Morgan, Quentin and Abby; delighted sister to Aaron and Anna, Benjamin and Avery; Aunt imperishable to many children of her siblings, both by blood and marriage: Charlotte and Oscar; Django, Wolfie, and Scout; Noah, Ezekiel, Rosalie, and Toby; Unwavering friend to myriad seeking souls.

Friday, September 20, 2019 at 11AM friends and family will celebrate the life of Amanda at St. Stephen's Catholic Community in (575 Tuskawilla Road) Winter Springs, Florida, with a reception to follow.

There will be another gathering on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 6:30 pm at the Dujarie Chapel at Holy Cross Villages in South Bend, Indiana.

Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley 6717 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Amanda loved going out of her way to help better someone's day, so any act of kindness would honor her.