Tamera L. Sims

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Tamera Leigh Sims. Known as Tammy to family and friends, she was called home to our Heavenly Father on April 9, 2026 in Bakersfield, California at the age of 80. 

Tammy was born May 8, 1945, the only child of Bob and Ruth Shore, in Fort Worth, Texas where her father was undergoing pilot training during WWII. The family moved back to Bakersfield shortly after hostilities ended. 

Tammy attended Saint Francis School and Garces High School in Bakersfield, graduating from both with academic honors. A pioneer among Kern County women, she was part of the first graduating class of Cal State Bakersfield's nursing program, becoming a Registered Nurse. She furthered her education at Stanford University and became the first female Physician's Assistant in Kern County, where she started seeing patients at the KCEOC/WIC clinic, eventually taking over as director, before settling into private practice. She returned to Cal State University Bakersfield to earn her Master's Degree in family counseling as a way to better serve her patients' needs. She then went on to earn her Nurse Practitioner's degree at CSUB, thus completing her education. She was a healer of both minds and bodies, and dedicated to the care and well being of her patients, most of whom were women and children. 

Tammy was an accomplished seamstress, a skill passed down from her mother, Ruth and her grandmother, Nell Harvey. She enjoyed making clothes for herself and for her granddaughters. In her younger years she enjoyed ballroom dancing -both participating and teaching it to others, and playing the piano. She was a lifelong avid reader and was a great fan of mystery novels.

 In the mid-1970s, she met Kenneth Sims through her neighbor, Jerry, who had a reputation as an instinctive matchmaker and was Ken's colleague. Ken was LDS and her interest in him and natural curiosity led her to investigate and join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In The Church she found what her spirit needed, and in Ken she found her soulmate. Ken and Tammy were wed on June 16, 1979 in the Los Angeles Temple and spent the next 46 years completely devoted to each other.

 Tammy was known for her bright intellect, her dry sense of humor, her loving nature and her never ending smile. She was equal parts sarcasm and kindness. She showed quiet strength and patience, and was always there to support those she loved in any way she could. She loved sewing, embroidery, reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband Ken were practically inseparable and loved to travel together, shop, or just sit together in a room and read. They genuinely enjoyed each other's company. 

Tammy was preceded in death by, and is now reunited with her dearest love; Kenneth Thomas Sims, her parents; Ruth Mona (Harvey) Shore and William Robert "Bob" Shore, her sons: Joel Amado and Brent Sims, and various aunts, uncles, and cousins.

 She is survived by her son, Rick Amado; her daughter, Suzette Gaddis (Brian); her daughter-in-law, Lesa Amado; her grandchildren, Sarah Daves, Joshua Gaddis (Ashley), Kayla Gaddis, Derek Collins, Jeramiah Edwards (Kayla), and Guinevere Sims; her great-grandchildren Marshall Adams, Ronan Daves, Kloe Edwards, Kamryn Edwards, and Kyndall Edwards; her chosen sister, Melanie Henson, and several cousins and their respective families. 

The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to Tammy's hospice nurse, Danielle Martin, and excellent caregiver, Dianna Ellis; for the love and compassion they showed her during the final period of her life. 

Tammy's life will be honored and celebrated at 10:00 am, May 2, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 9900 White Oak Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93311. Tammy will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Cemetery (River Blvd). Kern River Family Mortuary 661-392-9010