Co-owner of popular Richland ice cream and rock shop has died

Amy Tallman, one half of the duo behind a popular ice cream and gem shop in Richland, has died after a lengthy illness.

Tallman, also known as Yufang Li and was born in China, died Sept. 28 in Richland. She was 60.

Together with her husband, Doug, Tallman opened the Amethyst Creamery in former legal offices near the entrance to Howard Amon Park in late 2019.

Doug Tallman shared regular updates in posts to the Amethyst Facebook page on his wife’s health as she battled cancer. In late September, he temporarily closed the business after she suffered a stroke and was hospitalized.

Tallman announced the death of his “little Amy.” He said the business will reopen at an undetermined time.

Amy and Doug Tallman modeled Amethyst on the rock shop they once operated in at Sunriver, Ore., a resort community south of Bend. A nearby ice cream shop always seemed busy, they noticed.

After selling the rock shop and moving to the Tri-Cities for family and health reasons, they combined ice cream and gems in a new business, figuring rock hounds would keep the business afloat during the cooler months.

Tri-City Herald voters ranked Amethyst Creamery the best business for frozen treats in the annual Tri-Cities Best survey.

Life Tributes Cremation Center is handling her services.