On Saturday, November 6, 2010, the heart of a kind, loving and generous soul beat for the last time. Tammy Lee (Conner) Clarke was just 52 years old and, though her final days were spent in an arduous battle with cancer, her life was full of joy and love for family and friends. She leaves behind her husband Jeff, whom she married in 1982, and her children Ashley, Thomas “TJâ and his wife Kristen, as well as her brothers Lynn Conner of (Houston, TX) and Steve Conner of (Detroit, MI).
Born July 25, 1958, Tammy spent much of her life in Indiana where she was raised and educated. A relative newcomer to Florida, she and her family resided the past five years in the Jacksonville area; she felt at home in this warm state so close to sandy beaches and the ocean she so loved. Over the course of her 28-year marriage to Jeff, employment opportunities led the family to Lebanon, Ohio, to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and to Southern Indiana, before their move to Florida. Tammy’s talent for attention to detail led her to various positions as a bookkeeper in whichever city the family called home; Tammy was currently employed by Remilnet and attending Florida State College at Jacksonville for her Associate’s Degree in business.
No matter where they lived, Tammy’s penchant for decorating helped her to create a warm and welcoming home for her family. Visitors were always struck by how Tammy’s homes vibrated with her clever touches of beauty, color and texture. Tammy enjoyed creating beautiful things out of something ordinary, and spent hours studying decorating and craft magazines. Her latest creations were gingerbread houses for Christmas.
Pets were an important part of Tammy’s life, whether she picked a collie pup from a breeder or took in a skinny stray dog or cat, there was always room for “just one more.â Tammy once brought home a nearly tailless, half-starved cat she found by the side of the road and named him Lucky; he was part of the family, along with two other cats and three dogs, for many years.
Services for Tammy were held at 2pm Wednesday, November 10 at the Russell Haven of Rest Funeral Home, 2315 Sandridge Road, Green Cove Springs, FL. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to American Cancer Society. www.cancer.org (1-800-227-2345)