Tamara L. Chappell, 52, of Sterling passed away May 19th at the Sterling Regional MedCenter.
Tammy, the youngest child of D.W. "BiII" Chappell and Lorrine G. (Rutten) Chappell
was born June 2, 1958 in Rushville, NE. In March of 1963, Tammy moved with her
family to Akron, Colorado where her parents operated the Ben Franklin store.
Tammy attended Akron Elementary School until the second grade when she started
attending a special needs school in Julesburg, CO. During the early years of her
education in Julesburg she lived with the Reverend Earl and Mrs. VonEhrenkrook and
their daughter, Alys. Tammy and Alys quickly formed an inseparable bond becoming
more like sisters then just roommates. The two girls were always together and Alys often
came to Akron on Tammy's weekend visits at home.
Out of love for their children and a need for specialized education, several parents united
to form the White Center in Julesburg where Tammy resided for many years. Tammy's
educational and special needs took her to many facilities in eastern Colorado. It was in
Sterling that one of Tammy's greatest accomplishments happened. Tammy was able to
get her own apartment giving her the independence she so coveted. During this time
Tammy was employed by Taco Johns where she was acknowledged as being a valued
employee by obtaining awards for her efforts.
In the mid 1990's Tammy was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given six months
to live. Tammy spent her 6 week radiation treatment time living at home with her mom,
Lorrine. During this time Tammy's relationship with her mother deepened. Though it
was a tough time physically for Tammy, there was a lot of fun girl times shared with
mom and her sister Deb. Though Tammy had been told many times in her life that she
wouldn't live long enough to see a certain age, she once again proved the doctors wrong
by outlasting her 6 month expiration date by many years. Once again Tammy returned
to Sterling to live at North Division residence. As her disease progressed Tammy
eventually became confined to a wheelchair. After a long period of not walking, Tammy
decided she was going to walk for her mom! With therapy and help from staff, Tammy
was able to walk short distances with her walker. Proving once again that when it came to
Tammy, the doctors weren't always right!
Tammy always found joy in living and being with people. Special Olympics, trips to
camp, Colorado Rockies' games and Bingo shared with friends brought Tammy great
enjoyment! Often she would call her sister to tell her that she had won $50 at bingo!
Tammy also enjoyed her private time doing word find books and watching her DVDs.
Tammy would apprehensively let you borrow one her numerous DVDs but if your name
was Dell it meant signing a checkout sheet after being questioned about when you would
be returning the DVD!

Tammy's demeanor was kind and caring but she wasn't afraid to defend her rights! She
could hold her own when being teased by her brother who would always turn her TV
show to a football game. This is probably where the expression "oh brother" came from!
She could let her brother-in-law have it when he would fill her holiday dinner plate with
cauliflower and gravy (the two things she disliked the most!) and she could be quite
verbal when her nephews Mike and Brandon would scare her when lifting her and her
wheelchair into the house. One of her most memorable battles came when Tammy's
brother Jim took off one of his socks and threw it at Tammy who was sitting in the chair
quietly doing her crafts. Tammy would tell him to "knock it off" and toss the sock back.
After this happened several times, Tammy reached into her craft bag, pulled out her
scissors and cut the sock in two, tossing both pieces back at her brother and quietly
returned to her crafts leaving her 40-something brother to holler for his mother!
There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child and this was the case for Tammy
and her early years in Akron. Tammy who had been taught the route from her house to
her parent's business was finally ready for her solo walk. Deb who was at home received
dozens of phone calls from people telling her that Tammy was walking by herself. Deb
had to explain that it was ok and if they waited they would soon see Tammy's mom and
brother following behind in the car far from Tammy's vision.
It wasn't unusual for Tammy as she got older to walk into a business place by herself and
come home with something new that the owner had given her. Tammy's mom would
have to take Tammy back to the business and explain that though it was a kind gesture,
Tammy needed to learn that she had to have money to be able get things.
Deb learned that the village was always watching when she and her friends took Tammy
with them to get a coke at the drugstore. Deb and her friends ordered medium cokes and
ordered a small one for Tammy who never finished her drink. Tammy who was upset
about not having what the other girls were having knocked her drink over spilling its
contents all over the counter. As the girl behind the counter was cleaning up the mess,
Deb swatted Tammy on her bottom and told her that she wasn't getting another coke.
Well at that same time Larry Eatherton brought Tummy a medium coke and Tammy
flashed Deb her "so there" look and started drinking her "big girl coke"! When Tammy
and Deb returned to their parent's store their Mom looked at Deb and said "so I heard
you spanked Tammy". Apparently a few ladies from the village went directly from the
drugstore to dimestore to let Lorrine know.
Though for the most part Tammy was accepted, watched over and even loved by the
community there were those whose ignorance was greater than their compassion.
Though Tammy may not have understood their indifference to her she always showed
them the respect that they were unable to show her.
Tammy was preceded in death by her father D.W. "Bill" Chappell. Those left to
remember her love are her mother, Lorrine Chappell, brother and sister-in-law James and
Maribeth Chappell, sister and brother-in-law Deb and Dell Cowan. Tammy is also
survived by some of the most loving and compassionate people and ok maybe a little
ornery, her nephews and nieces; Eric and Deanna Chappell, Mike Cowan, Erin and
Brandon Hill and great niece Isabel Hull.
Tammy was loved not only by her birth family but by some of the greatest people on this
earth, her families at North Division, Logan and Duffield Centers and the Eastern
Colorado Services for the Developmentally Disabled. This was apparent when on May
19th many of these people surrounded Tammy in her hospital bed holding her hand and
kissing her head. They told Tammy of their love for her and were there by Tammy's side
as she took her last breath. The Chappell, Cowan and Hill families thank you for the care
and love that you gave to Tammy and will always be grateful to you.

A funeral service was held Monday, May 23, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Akron. Interment followed at Akron Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Eastern Colorado Services for the Developmentally Disabled. Brenner Funeral Home in Akron was in charge of arrangements.