Tammy Felt Williams September 1, 1963 - October 12, 2023

Tammy Felt Williams, a beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, graduated from her battle with cancer on October 12, 2023, in Elk Ridge, Utah. She was born on September 1, 1963, in Provo, Utah, as the cherished youngest of twelve children to Paul and Afton

Tammy’s life was a testament to love, faith, and service. She made her choices based on lessons learned throughout her life. At around 4 years old, Tammy was pulling out her hair. It ends up it was because she was so frustrated because she couldn’t see well at all.

At the age of 6, Tammy crashed her bike and fractured her leg. She kept the pin and a 5-inch scar the rest of her life along with a developed love for reading and a proficiency on crutches.

Tammy was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by her brother, Larry, in Holbrook, Arizona, while her parents were serving as mission presidents over the Southwest Indian Mission.

Imagine Tammy, 5 feet 11 inches tall in middle school! She considered herself shy and reserved. She avoided boys but would go to dances because Tom & Kathleen went. She didn’t want it to be obvious that she was a social misfit.

As a junior in high school, Tammy got to travel with her parents to Israel, where they directed a group of college students studying abroad. Tammy says that she was hard on herself. And never thought she was good enough. She doubted even having a testimony. However she found herself asking God a simple question. Do you love me? She was enveloped by a peaceful warm loving feeling and felt God telling her in her mind, “Tammy, I love you.” All of her emotional and spiritual suffering left her in that kibbutz in Jerusalem. She wrote in her history that her heart and soul had been healed. She slowly grew the rest of her testimony and learned to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost as quiet feelings in her heart and soul and oftentimes actual words in her mind.

A Provo High School graduate from the Class of 1982, Tammy courageously served in student body alongside her twin brother Tom. They campaigned using their father’s BYU student president of 1941 winning motto, “Vote Tom & Tammy & let your influence be FELT.” Tammy was certain she wouldn’t win the election but was surprised as her intense desire to win grew.

 After freshman year at BYU studying speech pathology, Tammy went to Texas a second summer to live with Marylyn and Steve. She worked as a secretary downtown and really enjoyed the independence of being herself – instead of known as someone else’s younger sister.

Tammy worked at the Candy Jar at BYU where Kirk was her supervisor. From her journal “He brightens and cheers up everybody’s day with his smile and laugh. I’ve got such a crush on this guy. I’ve never been like this before…help!”. This crush developed further when Kirk invited Tammy and her roommates along for a road/train trip to Mazatlan. From Kirk’s journal “Tams and I left a few minutes early from the disco and we took a walk on the beach. There was a beautiful sunset on a gorgeous sandy beach and here I was with the girl I was hopelessly in love with. It was more than I could handle…the scene was too romantic. I had to kiss her. I did. It was great!”

Months later, after a day of Thanksgiving roller skating & snowmobiling, Tammy and Kirk came back to Kirk’s house in Burley, Idaho. In the middle of a deep conversation, Kirk blurted out, “Tammy, marry me?” Both of them were kind of in shock and Tammy thought about it and then asked “Will you take me back to my Heavenly Father?” Kirk promised yes. Tammy said yes.

Tammy and Kirk covenanted to take each other back to Heavenly Father on February 25, 1984, in the Provo Temple, where her father, Paul, was the sealer.

Tammy was a sweet mother and wife, who couldn’t abide contention. In a heated moment between husband and wife, Tammy exclaimed “Why didn’t you tell me you had such a temper before I married you?” Kirk replied “Why didn’t YOU tell me you had such a temper before I married you?” Tammy’s quiet response surprised them both. “I didn’t have a  temper before I married you.”

Tammy dealt with extreme physical pain after an injury falling down the stairs followed up with a car accident. Again, she turned in prayer to a Heavenly Father she knew loved her and found peace and understanding.

In Tammy’s words “I feel like I am having the hardest time lately being a good mother. This time in my life is definitely the roughest when it comes to being a mother. There have been times lately that if it were possible to quit my job of being a mother, I would probably do it in a fit of frenzy.”

Thank goodness she didn’t quit. Here are her descriptions of her children when they were young.

Chase was a happy boy. He always wanted to be playing and having fun.

Travis was a sweet kid and was always such a great little helper.

Jenaca was my doll baby! She was always smiling and happy.

Spencer was nicknamed Bam Bam for his strong legs. His smile was very contagious.

When you were with Tammy, you felt her love. Tammy had a remarkable talent for inviting strangers to her family dinner table, cheering for marathon runners, and mending the broken parts of this world. Tammy was a creator at heart, finding joy in woodworking, tole painting, sewing, decorating, and scrapbooking. Tammy has been the family light keeper, working hours upon hours to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers through family history books. These treasured volumes have been a gift of love and sacrifice to the Felt and Williams families as we know our ancestors and learn from their lives.

From a letter from Paul to his sweet 9-year-old Tammy “Your daddy’s prayer and wish is that you will continue being the sweet, lovable angel that you are.”

Tammy now rests in the loving embrace of her parents, Afton and Paul Felt, her sister Marilynn Forsyth, her sister Betty Naomi Felt, and her mother and father-in-law Shirley Mae & G. Howard Williams. She leaves behind her best friend and loving husband, Kirk Jacob Williams, and their greatest creations: Chase Kirk Williams (Jessie), Travis Felt Williams (Rachel), Jenaca Jett (Stephen), and Spencer Paul Williams (Chelsie), along with her 14 cherished grandchildren.

Tammy’s legacy is one of love, faith, service, and creativity. Her memory will forever be etched in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her. May her enduring spirit inspire you to show love to someone you don’t think deserves it and to seek a witness of God’s love for you.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Elk Ridge 7^th Ward LDS Chapel, 185 Ridge View Drive, Elk Ridge, Utah. Family and friends may gather at either of the viewings which will both be held at the church: Monday evening, October 16, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. or on Tuesday morning from 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  Interment will be at Spanish Fork City Cemetery.