Roll Call Tribute

Tammy Marie (Lemm) Spangler 

April 25, 1970 - December 26, 2024 

In the early morning hours of December 26, 2024, our beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt and loyal friend, Tammy Marie Lemm Spangler, 54, passed away after waging a courageous three-year battle with cancer. Tammy was born in Conroe, Texas on April 25, 1970, and grew up in Spring, Texas where she graduated from Spring High School in 1988. Following her love of government, history and education, she went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Political Science in December 1991 and a Master of Science in Educational Administration in August 1996, both from Texas A&M University. While studying at Texas A&M, she received Distinguished Student awards in the Fall of 1990, and Spring and Summer of 1991. She also obtained her Texas Teacher Certification in May 1993 from the University of Houston. Tammy was a passionate public educator for 31 years serving in Waller ISD, Humble ISD, Spring ISD and for the past 10 years, Klein ISD. She spent many years in the classroom as a middle school history teacher, making a lasting impact on countless students, fellow educators, and administrators. While at Twin Creeks Middle School, she also provided extensive hours of administrative support. Other roles she held during her career included instructional specialist, testing coordinator, program specialist, and her recent position as Program Coordinator with Klein ISD’s office of Accountability, Assessment, and Research. She retired on September 30, 2024.

In her early years, Tammy enjoyed girl scouts, ice skating, and 4-H. Her ice-skating career took her to competitions across Texas, Oklahoma, and California. She also had a beautiful creative side about her which continued into her adulthood. She became quite an artist, was an avid photographer and scrapbooker, and enjoyed crafting everything. Her most cherished crafts were made from family heirlooms including an angel made from a linen napkin from her Great Great Aunt Lena Koch, a Christmas ornament which she made from her Grandmother Strack’s first electric Christmas tree lights, and numerous barnwood projects made from her Grandparents 1940s barn. She never made just one of these cherished mementos, she always made enough to share with her mother, sister, daughter, and nieces.

Her love of history led to a fierce interest in genealogy and family history, a love that she shared with her mother and passed on to her daughter, Zoe. Tammy spent many hours collaborating with Zoe on her Girl Scout Gold Award project named “Family History Matters” which was a collection of resources to aid individuals in how to conduct family history research. Tammy was also a significant contributor to the recent publications of “The Lemm Family History” book and “The Theis/Theiss Family History” book.

Tammy had an insatiable appetite for reading and took a book with her everywhere she went. She was a member of the book club Lit Wit’s and enjoyed reading most anything but loved historical fiction and true stories the most. Her knowledge of historical places also created a love of travel and road trips. Tammy loved spending time at the family river place and the beach. She found much comfort and solace in being by the water. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, she and Zoe continued to make road trips conducting several potential college visit trips, and visiting Galveston, Texas; Dauphin Island, Alabama; Venice, Florida; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and Asheville, North Carolina. After Zoe settled on attending Belmont University in Nashville, Tammy made several trips there and they enjoyed many road trips exploring the Tennessee hills.

If her family and friends had to pick one word to describe Tammy, the word would be selfless. The stories shared by her family, friends, and coworkers are a testament to Tammy’s legacy, one of selfless service, advocating for those that can not advocate for themselves, and a deep devotion and loyalty to her family and friends in time of their need.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Zoe Spangler, her parents, Bobby and Judy Lemm, her sister, Rhonda Alford, brother-in-law, Robert Alford, nieces, Kaley and Kendel Alford, best friends, Nicole Klimow and Evangeline Mitchell, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Tammy is preceded in death by her grandparents, Fred & Meta Strack and William & Alma Lemm.

A gathering for Tammy will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, from 10:00am until the beginning of the service at 12:00pm at Earthman Resthaven, 13102 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77060. Interment at Earthman Resthaven cemetery will immediately follow the service.

The family wishes to acknowledge the doctors, nurses and staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center for their incredible care and treatment. The family would also like to sincerely thank all those that have sent countless messages, cards, and provided support to Tammy, Zoe, and the family during this last part of her journey. Although hard to say goodbye, we can be comforted knowing that Tammy knew Jesus and is now home and at peace.

IN THE CARE OF
Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery