Jamie Nicole Costlow

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jamie Nicole Costlow, née McKnight, a ray of sunshine adored by all who knew her. Jamie died suddenly of natural causes on March 28, 2023, at her home in Phoenix. She was a happy and healthy 41-year-old full of spirit. Her unexpected death has left us all devastated, especially her husband, daughter, parents, siblings, and close friends.

A lifelong resident of Arizona, Jamie was born on July 29, 1981, at Desert Samaritan Hospital in Mesa. Jamie was the youngest of three children in a loving family. Growing up in Tempe, she was a devoted student at Kyrene del Cielo, Pueblo Middle School, and Corona del Sol High School. She was involved in numerous activities, including choir, cross-country and pole vaulting, and an environmental club. The meaningful friendships she formed over those years continue to this day.

As a child, Jamie loved crafts, baking, and playing the piano (even composing her own songs!). She cherished her summer vacations in Indiana, where she would spend countless hours with her grandparents, learning how to cook, sew, and tend to a bountiful garden. She also enjoyed spending time with her family in Arizona and Wisconsin, including her great-grandmother, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Jamie always made family a priority and went to great lengths to maintain connection while making everyone feel special and loved.

After high school, Jamie moved to Flagstaff to attend Northern Arizona University. She relished her time in college, where she was part of the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Alpha Phi Omega Community Service Organization, and the NAU Shrine of Ages Choir. Her circle of close friends grew even bigger, and her knack for design was evident in the decorating of her dorm room. In 2003, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management.

Jamie launched her career at the prestigious Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale and later, the Royal Palms Resort. She reveled in looking after guests, many of whom were celebrities. In 2005, she transitioned to an extensive, 17-year-long career in the building industry. For a decade, she proudly worked at FM Solutions, an architecture, project management, and facility services firm based in downtown Phoenix. There, she served as a property manager, designated broker, and facility consultant. She later held positions at The Wright Group, Taylor Morrison, Alliance Truss, and Richmond American Homes, in addition to working as a licensed real estate broker. She earned certifications related to green building and facility management. She also held a master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix.

Beyond her formal career, Jamie was a gifted photographer and spent many years shooting weddings, births, and other life events for friends, family, and acquaintances. She also enthusiastically stepped up to organize baby showers, birthday celebrations, block parties, and other functions. She was a lifelong volunteer for causes such as homelessness, teaching English to immigrants, and animal welfare.

Jamie’s character emanated compassion, creativity, and optimism. She maintained such a high level of integrity and ambition that it was not uncommon to find her toiling away into the wee hours of the night. Her work ethic was unparalleled, and her friends and family were constantly astounded by her productivity and tireless spirit.

One of her most ardent supporters was her adoring husband, Wes Costlow, whom Jamie married on October 18, 2014, at the Cave Creek Regional Park. Together, they raised a beautiful, loving daughter named Leah, who is currently a sophomore at Barry Goldwater High School. Jamie’s greatest joy in life was being a devoted wife and mother.

Wes, Jamie, and Leah were an inseparable unit, and they excelled at having fun together and creating new memories. Many weekends, you could find them cruising around sand dunes in their Razor or hanging in their cul-de-sac with their neighborhood friends. They also loved jetting off to visit friends and family in locales such as Seattle, California, Sweden, and Italy. While fun and adventure were a big part of their routine, they also found comfort just being cozy at home with their three beloved dogs – Winnie, Sophia, and Kody. Their home is a warm and inviting place, filled with Jamie’s special touches. One of its best features is Jamie’s little garden. Her personality is embodied in its colorful flowers, yummy tomatoes, and quirky decor.

Ask anyone to describe Jamie, and they will likely tell you that she was bright, compassionate, bubbly, selfless, sincere, multi-talented, and eternally hopeful. She was full of gratitude and celebrated every aspect of life, both big and small. Her smile was infectious. Her outlook was inspiring. Her love was abundant. Her mission in life was to bring joy to other’s lives. A mission certainly accomplished.

Jamie had so many dreams that she had yet to pursue. Her life was cut way too short. While the pain in our hearts is immeasurable, we can take comfort in knowing that she lived each day to the fullest. She made a significant impact on this world and on the lives of everyone who knew her. We will all carry her generous, loving, and optimistic spirit forward.

Jamie is survived by her husband, Wes Costlow; daughter, Leah Costlow; parents, Julie McKnight, Rick Lovell, and Michael McKnight; brother, Gregory McKnight; sister, Jenna McKnight (Brant Coletta); grandmother, Eldoris Lovell; mother-in-law, Mary Aldredge; sister-in-law Amber Hadden (Jeremy); nephews, Aidan and Jase; niece, Haleigh; aunt, Susan; step-aunts, Bonnie, Debbie, Kathy, and Sherri; step-uncles, Dan, Dan, Dean, and Terry; cousins, Tige and Cole; step-cousins, Kelsey, Mike, Jenna, Cory, Jamie, Aaron, Brandon, Andrew, and Nathan; stepmother, Cindy; stepsister, Cassie; step-nephew Rhett; and many more extended family members and dear friends.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Jeanne and Paul McKnight, Roberta and Lou Daroff, and Lawrence Lovell; her fathers-in-law, James Costlow and Adrian Aldredge; and her uncle, Lou Daroff.

A celebration of Jamie will take place at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, April 5, at North Valley Church. The address is 27201 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85085. Flowers are welcome and can be sent to the Costlow household (email [email protected] for the address).

In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made in Jamie’s name to the Arizona Humane Society (https://www.azhumane.org/memorial-and-tribute-gifts/) or The Society of St. Vincent De Paul (https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/give/donate).

Please share your fond memories and expressions of sympathy on this memorial page for Jamie, as they will be printed in a book for the family. The address for this page is https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/phoenix-az/jamie-costlow-11226975