Obituary of Ashlee Louise Hopkins

On September 15th, 2024 Ashlee Louise Hopkins, an avid and skilled biker, was in a horrible accident while on an organized ride in Iowa City. Despite her resilience, strength, and the incredible help of UIHC emergency and SNICU care teams, her injuries were too severe. On September 23rd, following an honor walk at UIHC surrounded by friends and family, Ashlee made a final gift of her life by donating her liver to save another.

A time for family and friends to gather will be held from 4 to 7pm Friday, September 27, 2024, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City concluding with words shared by family and her friends beginning at 6:30pm.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) or Bur Oak Land Trust.  To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Ashlee Louise (Davis) Hopkins was born on July 18, 1983, in Ft. Madison, IA to Terry Davis and Marla Walton. Upon birth, she arrived strong, fierce, and ready to take on anything at 11.2 pounds. Her first charity work started at the age of 8 when she began the task of helping to raise her two younger sisters. She was their constant companion, brutally honest, their biggest champion, and their hardest hairbrusher.

Early on Ashlee made her mark as a cross-country star, was recognized nationally in the 2001 “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” and was voted the class clown and prettiest eyes at Keokuk High School. Leaving Lee County Ashlee attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in Anthropology in 2005. In 2014, after spending time in Chicago and Colorado she returned home to Iowa to be near her family and watch her nieces and nephews grow up.

Forever a champion of those most in need she often gave us more than we deserved and began her career in non-profit development. Picking up her charity work where she had left years before she joined the team at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program working tirelessly for victim-survivors with a quiet grace that we will be forever grateful to have experienced. From there she continued her work fundraising for Bur Oak Land Trust. In addition to her career in service to her community, she spent her energies and multiple talents supporting the work of other area non-profits including the Englert Theatre, Iowa City Bike Library, Girls on the Run, United Action for Youth, and Rotary. Her involvement in her community and her life was monumental. Whether for work or pleasure, she was a leader in every realm.

When not giving back to the numerous causes that she was passionate about, Ashlee spent her free time exploring the outdoors, thrifting, and listening to live music. It was her greatest joy to share the things that were important to her with those in her life. Ashlee led by example and knew that life was a precious thing to not take for granted. Despite being competitive she often would help others to try new things, push themselves further, and always saw the good in us even while giving us that side eye full of disappointment - frustration - love.

Ashlee loved living and the list of her interests was as grand as she was. From picking on her little sisters to the numerous things we all experienced with her over her short life - hiking, thrifting, running, yoga, music, art, camping, kayaking, Mexican food, biking, and of course chips and dips.

Trying to describe her is nearly impossible as she was so much to so many people. Her wit and deadpan delivery could make you laugh harder than you ever thought possible, her indomitable spirit and grit inspired even the most skilled yogis and bicyclists. Her compassion and empathy made each of us feel seen and valued. Ashlee had a smile that lit up the room and the kindest heart. She was the best of us, she gave us her all, and the world was made better by her simply being in it.

Ashlee Louise Hopkins is preceded in death by Marla Faye Walton (Mother), Janice Louise Moore (Grams), Trevor Lee Hopkins, and her precious golden lab Dr. Levi Hopkins. She is survived by her sisters Taylor Lawson (Brandon) and Maycee Piles (Trevor), her partner Blake Rowley, her father Terry Davis, and her many nieces and nephews, Lucy - Colin - Milo - Ashton - Aubrey - Bennett - Veda and her beautiful ginger cat Rosie. Along with countless extended family and friends across the world.

Please feel free to ride your bike for Ashlee's celebration of life services.