Ashley Ranae Palacios

Ashley Ranae Palacios died unexpectedly in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday, December 1, 2013. She was 20 years old. Ashley was born on July 21, 1993 in Show Low, Arizona to her mother, Virginia Beecroft and father, Alex Leonard Palacios, Jr. As a child, Ashley attended Caps Elementary School in Heber. While there, she began to play the flute and played in several school concerts through the years. Ashley truly was an amazing flautist. Later, she was a student at Mogollon High School and completed her high school years at Paradise Valley High School. During her high school years, she discovered the "power of the pen" and developed a passion for writing. She was an excellent writer and expressed many of her thoughts on paper. Ashley always enjoyed music and especially like Hip-Hop and dancing. She was one to always brighten a room by simply entering it. The last 8 months of her life, Ashley experienced "big city life" and loved calling Chicago her home. While there she worked as a chef and loved the responsibilities that came along with that title. Ashley also modeled in New York City and Las Vegas, finding the fast paced life of cosmopolitan city living exhilarating. Many may not know that Ashley's most favorite thing in the world was riding motorcycles! People have always admired her fearlessness and adventurous spirit. She believed that riding motorcycles had both of those qualities as well. She loved having the wind rush past her body as she explored the open road. To her, it was one of the best feelings in the world. "I've chosen myself as my hero," Ashley has said of herself. She was the type of person who always looked at the positive side of any situation thrown her way. She was a hard working young woman and was helpful to others. Her goal in life was to become a successful anesthesiologist so she could live a happy life. In her own words, "I may not be as successful as I want to be, but everyone knows, the sky's the limit!" Her zest for life was, and is, a great motivation for her friends and family, especially her brother. This incredibly happy and vibrant young woman will be missed by many in the communities of Heber, Overgaard, Scottsdale, New York City, Las Vegas and Chicago but, none will miss her more than her family. She is survived by her mother, Virginia Beecroft of Phoenix, Arizona; father, Alex Palacios, Jr. of Mesa, Arizona; brother, Kevin Coxe of Flagstaff, Arizona; grandparents: Maria and Alex Palacios, Sr. of Heber and Mesa, Arizona, Marcelina Beecroft of Heber, Arizona; aunts and uncles: Jolanda (Ken) Stewart of Heber, Arizona, Dicky (Cindee) Beecroft of Maricopa, Arizona, Jay (Vanessa) Beecroft of Show Low, Arizona, Richard (Laura) Beecroft of Flagstaff, Arizona and Steve Palacios of Las Vegas, Nevada. The funeral service will begin 10:00 A.M., Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Heber Wards Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, right off of Hwy 260 in Heber, where the visitation will begin one hour prior. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Heber Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Ashley's name to National Bank of Arizona or to Pay Pal to girlsonly2@hotmail.com have been suggested, and will be greatly appreciated by her family.