Tamara Calkins, 51, died unexpectedly on Monday, Sept. 6 from natural causes.

She was born in Fremont. She moved to San Jose when she was 18. She was a resident of Oakdale.

Ms. Calkins worked in the electronics industry in San Jose. She also bartended at the bar her mother and stepfather owned. She also worked at Collagen Corporation as a receptionist and glass washer, and then went back to school and became a Certified Nursing Aide. At age 25, she married and had her daughter, to whom she was lovingly and completely devoted.

When her stepfather was nearing death from prostate cancer, she temporarily moved to Oakdale to help her mother care for him. Shortly after her stepfather died, she moved to Oakdale permanently to be closer to her mother and to raise her daughter.

After moving to Oakdale, she worked at Oak Valley Hospital for 15 years, where she became close friends with her coworkers and cared for countless patients.

She also tirelessly cared for her ailing mother, when she fell ill and then died in June this year.

She was loving and caring, and also liked to stir up mischief among those she loved. She enjoyed laughing with her family, spending time with her daughter, spoiling her cat Marilyn, and any moment of fun to be had. She cherished outings with her family, including small trips to the mall and big trips to the mountains or coast.

She is survived by her daughter, Chelsea; sister, Vickie; brother-in-law, Phil; aunts, Virginia and Melba; niece, Alexis; nephew, Spencer.

Services were held on Sept. 17 at Lakewood Funeral Home.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

Sept. 29, 2010