Lindsay Lough — Phoenix

Lindsay "Erin" Lough, 31, of Phoenix Ariz. (previously of Rochester and Edina), died on May 12, 2016, in Phoenix. She is survived by her father, Bill Lough, mother, Barbara Pinaire, and sister, Trevelyn "Trevi" Lough.

Born in Houston, Texas, Oct. 22, 1984, Erin moved with her family to Edina in 1986. She attended Highlands Elementary School continuous progress program, Southview Middle School, and graduated from Edina High School in 2003. Erin graduated from Princeton University in 2007 with highest honors in ecology and evolutionary biology. She spent a summer in Thailand on a Princeton in Asia fellowship and a year on a biological research station on the Madre de Dios River in Peru on a Princeton in Latin America fellowship. Erin earned an MA from the Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State in 2011. She attended Mayo Medical School in both Rochester and Phoenix. She was in her third year rotations at Mayo Medical School when her mental illness consumed her life.

Always creative and artsy, Erin's passions in life were dancing, photography, writing, and her chinchillas. From preschool through high school, she danced and performed with Lake Harriet Dance School, City of Lakes Junior Dance Company, and Deuxmensions Dance Theater. She continued to take classes at Zenon, Princeton, and most recently at Arizona Ballet.

An avid nature photographer, she was teaching photography classes online. In 2011, she published a book of her Amazon nature photography, "What Springs of Rain." More of her nature photography, wedding photography ( http://www.truffulaseedphotography.com ) and documentary videos (Vimeo) can be viewed by accessing her name online. A beautiful writer, she was writing a book on how mental illness affected her life when she died.

Mental illness is a horrible disease. Mental illness kills beautiful people. Erin was a beautiful person. Her family and friends will always love and cherish her. Forever missed. Never forgotten. Heaven has acquired a caring and gentle soul.

Memorial gifts in Erin's name may be made out to NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness), 800 Transfer Road, Suite 31, St. Paul 55114, or to Pathways of Minneapolis, 3115 Hennepin Ave. S., MN 55408, which was a great help to Erin and has established a memorial fund in her name. Or please donate in Erin's name to another organization that you know and trust that supports research, education, and/or treatment of mental illness, which includes addiction.

A memorial service to celebrate the joy and compassion she brought to this world will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26, with visitation one hour prior to the service at Edina Chapel of Washburn-McReavy Funeral Homes . Condolences at washburn-mcreavy.com.