Tami Marie Lyons

1971 - 2018

Tami Marie Lyons
1971-2018
Born September 30, 1971 in Kansas, Tami was adopted by Jerry and Mary Laird in Rock Springs, Wyoming where she met her forever friend Christy Doak. When Tami was 14, the family relocated to Shelley, Idaho. Tami graduated Shelley High School in 1990. At 16, Tami's gift was to meet her birth mother Barbara Smith of Salina and her extended family. Tami attended Idaho State in 1992, and began the University of Idaho in 1994, majoring in Education.
In June of 1995, Tami met her "knight in shining armor", Brett, and the two bonded immediately and were engaged on Christmas Eve. Tami gave birth to Mary Madison Riley in June of 1996. Tami and Brett were married on October 19, 1996 and graduated from Idaho in 1997, alongside her mother-in-law Joyce.
Tami accepted a job at Chaparral Elementary in Meridian. It was here that Tami made her mark teaching and developing lifelong relationships with students, parents, and staff. In May of 2000 Tami welcomed her son Michael.
In 2004, the family moved to Sutter Creek, California where Tami taught Gifted and Talented for the school. The family returned to Nampa in 2005 and Tami gave birth to her second son Charlie in August. In Nampa, Tami taught at Ronald Regan Elementary, Central Elementary and Idaho Arts Charter, collecting many special friends and students at each school.
Tami had 9 special aunts and uncles. Her mother, Mary, was the center of her world. She shared a sister-like relationship with her cousin Terry and was Godmother to all of her children. Tami's best friend in the world was her brother, Tom.
Tami was preceded in death by her parents, uncles Jim, Jerry, and Danny, and special "dad" Stan Smith. She is survived by husband Brett, daughter Madison (21) of Boise, and sons Michael (18) and Charlie (12) in Nampa, brother Tom Laird of Idaho Falls, nephew Christian Laird of Georgia, several aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as her birth mother Barb Smith of Smolan Ks and her family.
A service for Tami will be held at St Paul's Catholic Church at 510 W Roosevelt Ave in Nampa on Friday May 18th at 11AM followed by a reception at the LDS Church on 3904 E Greenhurst Rd at noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please make a similar financial contribution to the Backpacks for Kids program at the Idaho Food Bank. Tami was passionate about children getting enough to eat and often packed lunch for a child in need.
Services are under the direction and care of Alsip and Persons Funeral Chapel 404 Tenth Avenue South Nampa, ID 83651. A Full obituary can be found at https://www.alsippersons.com/tributes/Tami-Lyons