Tamera Jo Brooker

Tamera Jo Brooker, lovingly known as Tami to those closest to her, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. She was born on March 14, 1961, in Waco, Texas—a place she loved deeply and never truly left behind.

Tami was raised in Waco by her parents, Tommy and Joan Bates. As the oldest of three children, she later welcomed her brother Timothy and her sister Shelley into a close-knit family. Weekends were often spent surrounded by extended family and cousins in Meridian—days filled with laughter, stories, and togetherness. Family was everything to Tami, anchored in a deep and steadfast faith in Jesus.

She graduated from University High School and chose to remain in Waco. Tami was a diligent worker who genuinely loved people. If you knew her, you knew joy, spontaneity, honesty, and someone who never held back her feelings. She loved fiercely, spoke directly, and lived fully.

On December 29th, 1978, Tami married Randall Thomas, a short chapter in her life that contributed to the path that ultimately led her to the love of her life, Jimmy Brooker. On June 28, 1995, Tami married Jimmy Brooker, with whom she shared a life rooted in devotion, family, and shared memories.

Tami had an incredible gift for connection. She remembered everyone and everything, especially when it came to her family. She knew the family tree like the back of her hand and often joked that she was the favorite, and somehow made it hard to argue otherwise.

Some of the most cherished memories of Tami live in the quiet, ordinary moments...sitting in her living room off Wenz, cracking open pecans she’d gathered from her yard. Family beach trips with her siblings and niece and nephew. Barbecues, evenings on the back patio around a fire, and long drives just to go somewhere—anywhere,because she simply loved being surrounded by the people she loved most.

Her niece and nephews were among her proudest joys. She was their biggest supporter, their fiercest protector, and their ride-or-die. Tami was the one you could always count on, the one who would drop everything without hesitation.

Tami had a presence that made people feel heard and known. She was always ready to listen, and if she didn’t agree, she wasn’t shy about letting you know. She was fierce, loyal, and loved her family hard. She had an intense dislike for frogs, a lifelong devotion to Dr Pepper—always in a gas station cup—and a soft spot for elephants. She remembered every birthday like it was her own and made sure everyone else remembered too, calling around to ensure each celebration was properly acknowledged. She was the family historian, the keeper of stories, and the go-to for family memories.

Nearly seven years ago, Tami suffered a massive stroke that forever changed her ability to communicate. Though words became difficult, her spirit never dimmed. Her familiar phrases—“Yes!” and “Oh my God!”—became part of her everyday language, and if you were lucky enough, she would sing “Jesus Loves Me.” Her stubbornness-honest, unwavering, and unmistakably hers,never left her.

Tami loved surprises, pranks, and always took things one step further than whoever started it. Life with her was never dull. It was real, loud, loving, and unforgettable.

Tami was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Booker; her brother, Timothy Bates; and her mother, Betty Joan Bates.

She is survived by her father, Tommy Bates; her sister, Shelley Ashley and husband Tim; her niece, Lindsey Wachsmann and husband Scott; her nephews, Jarred Ashley and wife Halley, and Gage Ashley; her great-nieces and nephews; Jimmy’s daughters, Alicia and Amanda; and her grandchildren, who held a special place in her heart. She is also survived by lifelong friends, along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Tami was truly one of a kind. She had a way of making people feel seen, remembered, and special. And that is how she will always be remembered.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearance.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV