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Obituary

Tammy Kay Blackburn was born on September 15, 1959, to Roy and Donna Gentry. She began life as a baby to her brother Steve, and her sister Rebecca Lee. She grew up in Oildale on newly renamed East Roberts Lane and swam her summers away with other kids in the neighborhood that flocked to her parents’ house to enjoy the pool and patio area her daddy built. The kids that swam in that pool later became family as the Gentry girls married the Ferrier boys, and Tammy’s close friend Jodene Fritz, married her brother Steve.

Tammy is preceded in death by both of her parents, Roy, and Donna Gentry. Her big brother, Steve, passed at the age of 27. Tammy’s stepson Blackburn also precedes her death, as does her nephew Steven Gabriel.

Tammy started a family young with her first born. Cory Wayne was born in 197. Tammy knew the importance of siblings in her own life, and generously gave birth to Kerry Rebbecca in 1976. Robin Lee joined the family just before Christmas in 1977. And finally in 1982, Paul James joined the clan as baby brother. Tammy raised all four children to be happy, to be themselves, to follow her golden rule of always treating others the way you’d like to be treated. Tammy was a loving mother to her four children and stuck to her guns on insuring they grew into healthy adults.

Happiness as a wife began in 1992 when Tammy met Stacy Blackburn as one of her neighbors. Both were doing their best as single parents, tammy had her children with her and directly across the way, Tammy could see Stacy with his children. Tammy was working and trying to finish college and her teaching degree supporting her kids, and Stacy was working and paying daycare for his three. Josh, Jenna, and Bry were in Tammy’s apartment playing with Tammy’s kids before those two ha even met. Stacy and Tammy didn’t take long to realize they needed and LOVED each other. The two families melded together effortlessly.

Tammy finished her college degree and became a teacher. She had originally planned to tech adults in the prison system, but as fate would have it, she was invited to interview with the Bakersfield City School District, and she son after discovered her professional fate. Mrs. Blackburn would be a kindergarten teacher. And she went on to serve that school district for more than 20 years.

Stacy and Tammy built the family a new home to finish raising their children in Rosedale. They enjoyed hosting friends and family, and friends of friends, and family of family on weekends. Tammy was the anchor of the street and once again, all the neighborhood kids once again flocked to swim in her pool every summer. Tammy made lifetime friends over BBQ’s, Fourth of July’s, Christmas’ and Thanksgivings she hosted in her home, always following her golden rule.

Tammy is survived by her husband Stacy Gene Blackburn, her sister Becky and husband Kim Ferrier. She is survived by her children, Cory Wayne Ferrier, Kerry Rebbecca Ferrier, Robin Lee Brand, and husband Eddie, Paul James and wife Tawnya, Joshua Gene Blackburn, and wife Ashley; her grandchildren, Brayden, Carter, Johnnie Roy, Katie, Claire, Rhyder, Logan, Gentry, and Presley; her nephew Trevor James Ferrier, and nieces, Amy Cartozian, and Tara Kay Gentry.