Stephanie Ella Loftis

On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, Stephanie Loftis, beloved sister, aunt, dog mom, and friend to so many, entered eternal life. Stephanie was born in the Spring of 1964 in Germany and moved to Portland, Oregon with her mother, Hannelore, as a young child. Stephanie had a diverse and interesting career. She earned her degree in exercise science and worked as a fitness coach, inspiring and encouraging her clients, many of whom became friends, with her gentle but charismatic manner. She also worked in various capacities in the culinary field from catering to private cheffing to dining room coordinator at PCC.

Stephanie had so many beautiful qualities, including her big, kind heart; quirky sense of humor; boundless creativity; and spirited nature. One of her friends aptly observed that her superpower was her ability to make people laugh no matter the circumstances. There was no way to stay angry when Stephie entered the room. Stephanie was a talented cook and baker, and she shared these gifts with family and friends, including her beautifully prepared-with-love annual holiday cookie packages. She had a passion for art and painting. Her art was full of color and fantasy, and she created extraordinary pieces for family and friends. Stephanie was an avid music lover who created hundreds of eclectic playlists full of mood and vibes.

Stephanie loved animals, especially her little dog Archie who lived to the grumpy old age of 17.5 years. She loved nature and took joy in the little things, like a hike through Forest Park or a playdate with Archie on Sauvie Island where she would snap and send pictures of all the wildlife and beauty she discovered. She was like a rainbow-colorful and unexpected. She was like a hummingbird-energetic, hopeful, resilient, and magical. She was like an elephant-gentle, intelligent, compassionate, and strong. More than anything, Stephanie was Stephanie. She was authentic, confident enough to show vulnerability, emotionally honest, loving, and curious. She was truly one of a kind.

Stephanie’s spirit is carried on by her sister, Tina, brother-in-law, Jeff, niece, Madelyn, and her extended family of friends. We were all so blessed to have Stephanie in our lives. Tschüss tschüss, schwester. We love you forever.

The family requests that those who wish to express sympathy consider donating to the Prevent Cancer Foundation (preventcancer.org) in Stephanie’s name. This non-profit foundation is dedicated to cancer prevention and critical early detection of cancer.