Tammy Elizabeth Kramer

Tammy Elizabeth Kramer, 50, Palmyra, Mo., was called home to her Lord and Savior on Oct. 15, 2023, with her husband Curtis by her side holding her hand.  

She fought Necrotizing Pancreatitis harder than anyone else could have for 114 days at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo. But ultimately, God needed another angel, and he couldn’t have found a better one.

Tammy was born July 28, 1973 and spent all but a few years of her life in the Tucson, Ariz. area. She was a graduate of Rincon High School. 

The most cherished things in Tammy’s life were her two daughters, Andrea and Lilly. Just as she did in every aspect of her life, Tammy excelled as a mother and raised them into outstanding young ladies. That’s the kind of person she was.

Tammy was an avid mountain biker. She loved riding the trails in and around the Tucson area, often riding 20, 30, 40 miles at a time. She made many cherished friends while on her beloved bike. Tammy was also an expert marksman. Curtis often joked that he better not make her too mad because she was a much better shot than he was!

 Tammy and Curtis met in December of 2018. It soon became apparent that each was what had been missing in their respective lives for so long. Frequent airline travel became a routine part of their lives for the next year and a half as they couldn’t be apart for long at a time. Tammy enjoyed introducing Curtis to the Tucson area, and Curtis put many miles on his pickup showing Tammy the beautiful mountain scenery in Northern Utah. One of their favorite places became the Bear Lake area, and on March 3 of 2020 he asked her to become his wife at a scenic overlook there, surrounded by snow. He didn’t feel the cold anymore when she accepted!

A few months later Tammy shut down her successful medical billing business and moved to Logan, Utah to be with Curtis. Turns out their back country adventures had just begun.  When a 4-wheeler that she affectionately called “Canny” became part of their lives, there was hardly a mountain trail in the area left unexplored. A lifetime of memories were made.

In June of 2021, Tammy undertook another cross-country move when she and Curtis relocated to Northeast Missouri to be near his parents. They were needing help with medical and other issues, and Tammy was maybe even more adamant than Curtis that they needed to be there ASAP. That’s the kind of person she was.

Although Tammy grew up in the city, it soon became clear that she was a small town girl at heart. She loved living in Palmyra and took an interest in the farm work that Curtis does. She spent many hours helping and caring for his parents, who grew to love her deeply, as she did them. That’s the kind of person she was.

Tammy, Curtis, Andrea, Lilly, and Curtis’ son, Garrett, (who had an immediate attachment to Tammy, and she to him) had many good times and made many memories in those times they were all able to be together. One of those times was Oct. 17, 2021 when Tammy and Curtis were married for time and eternity. Although that time together on earth was far too short, the love and experiences they shared together, were more than many experience in a lifetime. They often mentioned how they wished they had become part of each other’s lives many years ago.  But God’s timing is perfect, even if we don’t understand it.  Being the devout Christian she was, Tammy never questioned that.  That’s the kind of person she was.

Tammy came from a large, very close-knit family consisting of six siblings and numerous extended family members. The bond they all share is a rarity these days. In many ways, Tammy was the glue that bound them all together. Curtis is blessed that they all welcomed him as part of the family as well. 

Tammy had an unexplainable kindness and magnetism about her. A few minutes in her presence and witnessing her beautiful, friendly smile, one almost instantly wanted to be her friend and share in her wonderful nature. This is evidenced by the amazing, family-like friends she made, even in the short time she lived in Missouri.

Tammy’s absence is going to leave an almost unimaginable hole in all of our lives that will never be filled. But she will always be present and felt by everyone whose life she touched. Her wish would be for everyone to celebrate her, not mourn her. That’s the kind of person she was.

Tammy is survived by her husband, Curtis Kramer; daughters, Andrea Hilsden (Peter) and Lilly Hilsden (Tyler); step-son, Garrett Kramer; parents, Don Tate (Janie) and Jim Weilenman (Evelyn); father-in-law, Richard Kramer; siblings, Steve Tate (Kelli), Emily Peterson (Brian), LeighAn Sebring (Jamie), Josh Tate (Jillian), and Sam Tate (Julie), as well as many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends who she considered family. 

Tammy was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Tate; and mother-in-law, Luella Kramer.

To say “thank you” seems like a terribly inadequate way to express our gratitude for the outpouring of prayer, help with housing, finances, job security, and especially emotional uplifting that we have received over these last four months. Many, many miles were driven by several wonderful friends, multiple times, to brighten Tammy’s day and lend Curtis strength throughout this process. No matter how Tammy was feeling, her eyes lit up and she gave that addictive smile when one of her friends walked in the room. The generosity of many allowed Curtis and Tammy to spend much more of these past many weeks together than would have been possible otherwise. Not knowing a way to adequately express our gratitude, we’ll start with “Thank You” for now. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. at the Davis Funeral Home in LaGrange, Mo., with Pastor Kevin Wilkerson officiating. Burial will be in Dover Cemetery, Selves Addition near LaGrange.  

Pallbearers wwill be Rick and Tracee Pope, Jim and Missy Maupin, Daniel and Devon Isaacs, Lane and Kristi McKenzie, Randy and Janet Klocke and Brad and Nancy Speak.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dawn Whitaker, Janie Glover, Alena Pilon, Rod and Sid Roderer and Jennifer Steinmann.

Visitation will be held Sunday, Oct. 22, from 3 until 7 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Home in LaGrange. 

Memorials be made to Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (A.H.P.B.A.) or the American Pancreatic Association in care of Davis Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, LaGrange, Mo.  63448.

Online condolences may be left at www.davis-fh.com.