Tamara "Tammy" Strong

1943 - 2023

Anacortes - How to tell the story of someone's life, who did so much for so many.

Tammy was born on November 3, 1943 in Phoenix, AZ to Ori and Jane Clark. Ori was in the US Army and as an army brat Tammy lived in many places in this country and in the world including Korea before the invasion, Ulm, Germany, Fort Lewis, WA and elsewhere.

After high school she attended Pacific Lutheran University for a year where she met and fell in love with Donald Jordan. They were married soon after and Tammy left school to "put hubby through". Together they had three children. Donald was a chemist working in the metallurgical industry. One of the several places they lived for several years was in Accra, Ghana. During her children's growing years, she was regularly hostess to a variety of kid activities, sleepovers and the like.

On Donald's passing in 1986 Tammy was left to care for the one child remaining at home, her youngest daughter Dawn. She worked in retail and after a while attended South Puget Sound Community College securing an AA degree in Dental Assisting. Upon graduation she was immediately hired by the same program at SPSCC and worked for 17 years as clinic supervisor helping train two generations of new dental assistants. Her excellence and proficiency lead her to be nominated twice as "Classified Employee of the Year".

In 1997 she married James M. Strong (Jim). On retirement Tammy and Jim moved to a new home on Lummi Island, Washington where they ran a small B&B called "The Celtic Mariner". In 2012 the couple moved to their final home in Anacortes, Washington. Tammy loved to grow and tend roses and gardening in general. She was an avid photographer. She should be remembered as a person who loved deeply and helped large numbers of students on their uphill battles to success. What could be a better accolade? Tammy and Jim loved Community Colleges and the opportunities they provide, so if you wish to remember Tammy in a special way, a donation to a Community College of your choice would certainly be welcome.

After a long battle with Alzheimers Tammy died on April 7th in her home under hospice care. Her friend and husband Jim was with her. She is survived by her husband of 25 years, daughters Gill McCrary and Dawn Hayes and a son Jonothan Jordan. She has 6 grandchildren. She is also survived by her stepdaughter Susan Jeanne Strong.

To share memories of Tammy please visit www.evanschapel.com/obituary/tammy-strong