Tammy Jean Courtney
September 12, 1958 — October 4, 2024
Born: 1958 Died: 2024
Tammy Courtney Obituary
My best-friend and older sister, Tammy Jean (Kilgore) Courtney died on October 4, 2024, in Long Beach after a very brief battle with cancer. Tammy had many ailments and was in constant pain for most of her adult life, but her passing was swift. God finally blessed her with his mercy. As Tammy took her last breath she was surrounded with love by her daughters, grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. While the world has lost a beautiful soul, heaven has surely gained an angel.
Tammy was born on September 12, 1958, to the proud parents of Ethel and Rudy Kilgore in Bishop, California. Tammy attended Round Valley Elementary; she had very fond memories of growing up in Rovana. At a time when many women were going off to college and joining the workforce, Tammy wanted nothing more than to be a wife and a mother. So, the day after Tammy graduated from Bishop Union High School on June 5, 1976, she married her high school sweetheart, Keith Eiler Courtney. Tammy looked so beautiful in her wedding dress. Tammy and Keith were married for 47 years, until his passing this last March. Can you believe it? They died one day shy of seven months, of the very same thing, small cell lung cancer. Please, I beg anyone who smokes to stop today!
Tammy and Keith had two daughters, Hailey and Heidi. They raised their family in Bishop. While Keith worked at Caltrans, Tammy stayed home and took care of the house and girls. She was a terrific mother, grandma and great grandma. All her family called her “Nanny” or “Nanny-New.” She loved being everyone’s Nanny, and she took so much pride in her girls, grandkids, and great grandkids.
Tammy was the Kool-Aid mom. She was involved in all her daughters’ activities from being a home-room-mom, to helping with the cheer and basketball teams. All her daughter’s friends knew that she was someone they could talk to, because she was the cool, hip mom. Tammy loved the water; during the summer months she could be found playing in the water at Millpond, and waterskiing at Klondike and Grant Lakes. Winter months were not her favorite. If she wasn’t cuddled up in a blanket, she could be found in the front yard building snowmen with her children. As Tammy’s family grew, she never missed an opportunity to spend time with her grandkids, and great grandkids. She loved having her entire family home for the holidays. She loved passing down family recipes and teaching her kids and grandkids how to cook, especially “Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake,” and “Strawberry Pretzel.” She loved to give her family little gifts that she would find at the dollar store. Over the years, Tammy enjoyed various hobbies, decoupage, ceramics, stained-glass, decorating her house, and planting fake-flowers for various seasons.
Most of all, my sister will be remembered, as being kind and loving. Tammy had a tender-heart, and she was willing to help anyone in need. She was super friendly and could strike up a conversation with anyone she met. She never said an unkind word about anyone. Tammy loved God, and she loved her family. In turn, we loved her. We will all miss her hugs and juicy kisses.
Tammy is survived by her father, Rudy Kilgore (Dawn), her sister, Denny Gomez (Michael), daughters Hailey Herrrington (Sheldon) and Heidi Mazas. Her many grandchildren: Nathan Williams (Jami), Dustin Wilson (Kiana), Hannah Waasdorp (Mitch), Hunter Waasdorp (Ayana), Laura Fiero (Carlos), Savannah Jaramillo (Joe), Samantha Mazas (Anthony), Cooper Mazas, and Mason Mazas. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Leilani, Zachariah, Rose Marie, Lilly, Kazimir, and Thalia.
She is preceded in death by her mother Ethel Kilgore, husband Keith Courtney, father-in-law Richard Courtney, brother-in-law Mickey Courtney, and son-in-law Tony Mazas.
Celebration of Life for Tammy will be held at the Elk’s Lodge (151 East Line Street, Bishop, CA 93514) on November 9, 2024, at 2 PM. The family encourages those that were touched by Tammy’s kind heart to please join us in honoring and celebrating her life. We encourage you to bring any good stories or memories you would like to share. One of Tammy’s favorite holidays was Thanksgiving. She enjoyed eating turkey and all the trimmings. We want to celebrate her life by having a Friendsgiving. In addition, the family request you to bring your favorite Thanksgiving side dish to share.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be sent through our website.
Tammy Courtney Obituary
My best-friend and older sister, Tammy Jean (Kilgore) Courtney died on October 4, 2024, in Long Beach after a very brief battle with cancer. Tammy had many ailments and was in constant pain for most of her adult life, but her passing was swift. God finally blessed her with his mercy. As Tammy took her last breath she was surrounded with love by her daughters, grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. While the world has lost a beautiful soul, heaven has surely gained an angel.
Tammy was born on September 12, 1958, to the proud parents of Ethel and Rudy Kilgore in Bishop, California. Tammy attended Round Valley Elementary; she had very fond memories of growing up in Rovana. At a time when many women were going off to college and joining the workforce, Tammy wanted nothing more than to be a wife and a mother. So, the day after Tammy graduated from Bishop Union High School on June 5, 1976, she married her high school sweetheart, Keith Eiler Courtney. Tammy looked so beautiful in her wedding dress. Tammy and Keith were married for 47 years, until his passing this last March. Can you believe it? They died one day shy of seven months, of the very same thing, small cell lung cancer. Please, I beg anyone who smokes to stop today!
Tammy and Keith had two daughters, Hailey and Heidi. They raised their family in Bishop. While Keith worked at Caltrans, Tammy stayed home and took care of the house and girls. She was a terrific mother, grandma and great grandma. All her family called her “Nanny” or “Nanny-New.” She loved being everyone’s Nanny, and she took so much pride in her girls, grandkids, and great grandkids.
Tammy was the Kool-Aid mom. She was involved in all her daughters’ activities from being a home-room-mom, to helping with the cheer and basketball teams. All her daughter’s friends knew that she was someone they could talk to, because she was the cool, hip mom. Tammy loved the water; during the summer months she could be found playing in the water at Millpond, and waterskiing at Klondike and Grant Lakes. Winter months were not her favorite. If she wasn’t cuddled up in a blanket, she could be found in the front yard building snowmen with her children. As Tammy’s family grew, she never missed an opportunity to spend time with her grandkids, and great grandkids. She loved having her entire family home for the holidays. She loved passing down family recipes and teaching her kids and grandkids how to cook, especially “Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake,” and “Strawberry Pretzel.” She loved to give her family little gifts that she would find at the dollar store. Over the years, Tammy enjoyed various hobbies, decoupage, ceramics, stained-glass, decorating her house, and planting fake-flowers for various seasons.
Most of all, my sister will be remembered, as being kind and loving. Tammy had a tender-heart, and she was willing to help anyone in need. She was super friendly and could strike up a conversation with anyone she met. She never said an unkind word about anyone. Tammy loved God, and she loved her family. In turn, we loved her. We will all miss her hugs and juicy kisses.
Tammy is survived by her father, Rudy Kilgore (Dawn), her sister, Denny Gomez (Michael), daughters Hailey Herrrington (Sheldon) and Heidi Mazas. Her many grandchildren: Nathan Williams (Jami), Dustin Wilson (Kiana), Hannah Waasdorp (Mitch), Hunter Waasdorp (Ayana), Laura Fiero (Carlos), Savannah Jaramillo (Joe), Samantha Mazas (Anthony), Cooper Mazas, and Mason Mazas. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Leilani, Zachariah, Rose Marie, Lilly, Kazimir, and Thalia.
She is preceded in death by her mother Ethel Kilgore, husband Keith Courtney, father-in-law Richard Courtney, brother-in-law Mickey Courtney, and son-in-law Tony Mazas.
Celebration of Life for Tammy will be held at the Elk’s Lodge (151 East Line Street, Bishop, CA 93514) on November 9, 2024, at 2 PM. The family encourages those that were touched by Tammy’s kind heart to please join us in honoring and celebrating her life. We encourage you to bring any good stories or memories you would like to share. One of Tammy’s favorite holidays was Thanksgiving. She enjoyed eating turkey and all the trimmings. We want to celebrate her life by having a Friendsgiving. In addition, the family request you to bring your favorite Thanksgiving side dish to share.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be sent through our website.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Tammy Jean Courtney, please visit our flower store.