Carrie Anne Ames (Bensching) passed away at Providence Centralia Hospital on Oct. 9, 2026.
Carrie was born Dec. 14, 1955, in Lewiston, Idaho, to Earl Joseph Bensching and Beverly Jean Bensching (Bower). She was the fifth of 12 children. Her family eventually settled down in Chehalis, and she attended W.F. West High School, where she met her husband, Ron Ames. They were married March 24, 1973, and had three children. In 1988, Carrie went back to school and attained her GED at Centralia College, where she continued her education, completing college keyboarding and bookkeeping courses. She was hired at Cummings Oil and worked there for 16 years before moving on to work at Braun Northwest. After working there for 14 years, she retired in 2018.
Carrie had many interests and hobbies. In her younger years, that included playing third base for the Yard Birds slow-pitch team with her sisters and many ladies who became lifelong friends. She also loved crocheting, gardening and shopping for antiques.
Carrie was a devoted wife and mom, but her greatest joy was her two grandchildren. She was beyond proud of Violet for her love of soccer and her true passion for horses, as well as Jackson for his newfound love of dirt bike racing.
Carrie was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Beverly; her husband, Ron; her brother Eric; and her sisters Carol Lyn, Connie, Carla and Colleen.
Carrie is survived by her sister Criss; brothers Jim, Craig, Marc, Jon (Amy) and Mickel (Ruth); sons Brent (Gemetrice) and Ryan; daughter Jennifer (Ryan); grandkids Violet and Jackson; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Carrie’s life will be held at a later date yet to be determined.
