Tamra Sue Tarr

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life well lived, we say farewell to Tamra Sue Tarr, who passed away peacefully on June 30, 2025. Born on November 9, 1948, Tamra’s seventy-seven years were a beautiful testament to warmth, kindness, and unwavering commitment to those she loved and served.

Tamra’s journey began in Kirksville, the place that would see so much of her growth, achievements, and boundless care for others. A proud graduate of Kirksville High School, class of 1967, Tamra continued her pursuit of knowledge, later attending Northeast Missouri State University. Her perseverance shone brightly as she earned her Bachelor's degree in Communications in 1991, a milestone achieved with both determination and grace.

Throughout her remarkable career, Tamra touched countless lives. She dedicated many years as a nurse at the hospital in Kirksville, where her skill and deep compassion brought comfort to patients in need. Her calling to serve did not stop there—Tamra also worked at The Care Unit and she was an Administrative Assistant as well as helped with intakes and suicide hotlines, providing gentle, attentive care to the most vulnerable. She ventured into new professional roles, contributing her talents at Hawkins Insurance and, with equal heart, served as a manager at a women’s shelter in Kirksville, helping countless women find dignity, hope, and a path forward during challenging times.

Those who knew Tamra will remember her as a sweet spirit who deeply loved her family. She was never happier than when she was surrounded by loved ones or immersed in the simple joys of her flower gardens. Many will fondly recall Thanksgivings hosted by Tamra, gatherings marked by warmth, laughter, and the unmistakable sense of home she so effortlessly created. Outside her family circle, Tamra poured her heart into supporting others through her women’s group at church, always extending a steadfast hand to those in need. Music was another passion—a guitar in her hands, her voice raised in song, Tamra brought light and fellowship wherever she went.

Tamra’s legacy of caring and kindness continues in the lives of her surviving family: her beloved brother Jeffrey Sandefur and his wife Jennifer, her niece Diane Sandefur, and her nephew Alex Sandefur and his wife Kate. They, along with all whose lives she has touched, will feel her absence keenly but carry forward her spirit of gentleness and devotion.

She is welcomed into eternal rest by her late husband, Levi B Tarr; her father, Glenn Sandefur; her mother, Leora Sandefur; her daughters, Jessica (Sandefur) Capps and Amanda (Sandefur) Tarr; and other family members and friends who went before her.

Though words cannot capture all that Tamra meant to those who knew her, her memory endures in every loving gesture, every blossom in her gardens, and every note of song that echoes her joyful spirit. She leaves behind an enduring example of compassionate service, unwavering faith, and familial love.

Services honoring Tamra’s life will be held in Kirksville, where her journey began and where her legacy remains brightest among those she so dearly loved. Service day and times to follow.