Funeral services for Tamara Pebley will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, February 11th, 2022, at the First Baptist Church officiated by her friend and pastor Chris Fields.
Tamara Lynn Evans Pebley was born August 9th, 1958, to Norman Evans and Mollie “Earlene” (Thompson) Evans in Dallas, Texas, and spent her early years in Texas. Tammy loved horses and began riding as soon as she could get on her horse by herself at age four. She barrel raced and loved rodeo.
The family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma, when Tammy was ten. While there, Tammy and her siblings Craig and Cindy met the man they would later call Dad, Reb Pledger, and took him home to meet their mom. She attended Clinton High School through her sophomore year, where she played the flute in the Pride of Clinton Band and served as Tony Tornado, the Clinton High School Mascot. Tammy graduated from High School in Harrison, Michigan, in 1976. There she also married her high school sweetheart Michael Douglas and had daughters Melissa and Michelle. After Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps, the family moved to North Carolina.
Tammy later married Darrell Simmons and had her third daughter Karla. She worked at All State Insurance and was dedicated to her family, children, and church. In 1991, the family moved back to Oklahoma and Tammy went to work for the Phillips family at McDonalds. Tammy spent a lot of time in her job managing and mentoring high school kids. Education was a priority for Tammy. She valued it, which is likely why her daughters are all educators. She had two lessons she often explained to her daughters and anyone else who she thought might need to hear it. She said, “Pretty only lasts about 15 minutes. After that you better know something.” She also valued honesty, and often reminded people, “You still have to look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day. Make sure you’re going to like what you see.” She wouldn’t lie to you and she wouldn’t lie for you.
In 1996, Tammy went to work for the Custer County Sheriff’s Office where she was employed for twenty-five years until her passing. Throughout her years at the sheriff’s office, Tammy served as a dispatcher, jailer, financial officer, reserve deputy, and administrative assistant. She also worked part time dispatching for the Clinton Police Department. She prided herself in ensuring that when people came to the sheriff’s office, they left better than they started. While at the sheriff’s office Tammy met some of her best friends. In 2008, Tammy married her dear friend Deputy Ron Pebley.
A dedicated mom, Meme, & SeeMe, Tammy was involved in anything her family was doing. She spent her free time cooking and painting with her grandchildren, reading, and watching John Wayne movies. Tammy loved Red Tornado athletics and became the assistant cheer coach when daughter Michelle needed help with it. Tammy didn’t know a ton about cheerleading, but she knew how to build people up, and that earned her the name “Cheer Mom.” While serving as Cheer Mom, Tammy adopted a few other athletes and coaches along the way. If you were friends with her children or grandchildren, you were one of her “kids,” too. If anyone really knew Tammy, they knew she only wanted the best for all her kids.
Tammy was greeted in Heaven February 4th, 2022, by her parents Reb & Earlene, her Aunt Alphon, her granddaughter Gabbi Hawthorn, and family friend Dusty.
She is survived by brother Craig and Ruthann Evans, sister Cindy and Mike Thompson, and brother Wayne and Adrienne Evans; and an aunt, Sue. She also leaves three daughters and their husbands: Melissa & Greg Knabe, Michelle & Lowell Sorter, and Karla & Kevin Scott. She leaves grandchildren: Moira, Michael & Sera & Grant, Cannon & Kate, Kyler & Marissa, Dyson & Caleigh, Jacob, Ryann, Peyton, Ashlynn, Noah & MaKayla, Carter, Kyron, Ethan, Seth & Lino & Natalee; great grands Kole, Brently & Timothy; sisters-in-law Dana Simmons & Vicki Dismore; son-in-law Ronnie & Cynthia & kids; nephews and nieces: Shawn & Megan, Patrick & Victoria, Emily, Anthony, Danielle & Scott, Ernie, Jamie, Gabrielle, Danae and numerous other family, friends, and loved ones.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tammy’s name to the Ronald McDonald House of Oklahoma or CHS Red Tornado Athletics.