Tami Gulden James, age 65, of Miles City, Montana, passed away on Friday, October 31, 2014 at her home in Miles City.
Tami was born May 30th, 1949 to Victor and Carolyn Elizabeth (Bette) (Hall) Larson her parents met at The Galen Tuberculosis Sanitarium as patients. Her relationship with her father and a brother; Gary of Deer Lodge, MT was severed when Victor and Bette separated. She graduated in 1968 from Custer County High School. She was raised as the daughter of Donald F. and Bette Gulden and with their three children. They made their home for a few years at their grandparents homestead in Yellowstone Valley near Miles City. Their parents re-settled the children back in Miles City after several years of absence.
Tami married Timothy Lawrence James February 14th, 1968 and they were married up to the time of Tim’s death in 2006). They had their first child (Little Tim-Tim) and lost him to a tragedy in 1974. The sorrow of this senseless tragedy completely changed Tami and altered her life and that of her family. Tami and Tim had 3 more children that they raised in Miles City.
She dedicated her life and became the main support of her family by working for forty plus years at the same job. She started with the fall harvest of 1969 for Peavey Elevator and even though the company changed names and management personnel several times; she was the constant person everyone knew for those forty plus years. She even retired leaving only to return the very next day at the same job. She was building 401K plans by the companies she worked for and yet never left until she finally retired in 2013. But she still returned for a short time when called.
She is survived by her sons Terry L. (Vanessa) James of Miles City; Tony L. (Kayla) James of Deaver, WY and daughter Timberly James Sprayberry of Glendive, MT and by several grandchildren. She was especially close to her grandsons Jesse James and Joseph Sprayberry. Her sisters Bella(Greg) Garstang of Denver and Dona (John) Zimmer of Miles City and her brother Jerry Douglas (LaVonne) Gulden of Miles City also survive. She has special friends at the Blue Moon and Silver Star Casinos, Susan Pratt and Rick Bruff who have been extremely helpful and caring as a very special friend to her.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 7th, 2014 at 11:00 am at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.
Should friends or family wish to make any contributions, please direct them to the charity of their choice or donations to local organizations that support: animal rescue, Christmas empty stockings, or the food bank.
Julie Kaufman says
Goodbye, Mrs. Hat. I will miss you!
dawn beddes says
all three of you kids are in my thoughts and prayers. I have known your mom for a lifetime and it seems like just yesterday her and I were pregnant together.. her with Timberly and me with Kimberly..so please try and remember all the good times,,hopefully it will help you thru this hard time…all my luv Dawn
Rose Timmons says
James and Timberly: I am sorry to see the loss of Your Mom; she was so very nice to visit and I will miss her; God Bless you and the Family in you time of sadness.
Dan says
Salute to you Tami
Tim and Cheri Hafla says
our deepest sympathy in the loss of your Mother..
Mark Maxwell says
Tami and used to play together as kids. My father Jack Maxwell and Don Gulden were good friends.
I have fond memdories of us kids playing together at their house east of town. It was a long time ago
but I remember Tami as a nice kid. She was good at hide and seek.
I’m sorry for your loss. Mark Maxwell
Ashlie Sarah Slunaker says
James family, I am soo saddened to hear of Tami’s passing. She was loved and a Admired by many. She patiently taught me the ins and outs of our business. Without her guidance I would be completely lost. I know she was a great friend to many, and happy to include myself in that. May God comfort you during this period of sadness. I wish I could comfort each of you on Friday at her service, but know that I will be there is Spirit. God bless you all. Thank you, Tami, for sharing your life with all of us. Your quick laughter, analytical mind, and lighthearted banter with Daniel will be missed. Fly with angels. Love, Ashlie
Carolyn (Cooky Emerson) Hays says
Your mother/sister and I were good friends through high school. I have many wonderful memories of Tami and am saddened to know that she has left us way too soon. My deepest sympathy to all of you on your loss.
Butch and Kolleen (Waldo) Forsyth says
Butch and I extend our sympathies to Tami’s family and siblings. We all attended high school together. Thoughts are with you during this time of sorrow.