Tammy Endsley

The family of Tammy Endsley will celebrate her life of 55 years at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 1, 2020, at Victory Life Baptist Church. The family will host a time of fellowship and remembrance from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, July 31, 2020, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. She passed away on Sunday, July 27, 2020. In support of the health of her family, face coverings are mandatory while attending the service and visitation. The service will be live-streamed and be available for thirty days on this page. You are encouraged to sign the virtual guestbook and share memories and expressions of sympathy by selecting the icon.Our sweet Tammy was born, September 13, 1964, in Derby, Connecticut, to Sal and Darlene. She was their second child after her older brother Tony, followed by Tina, who arrived a year later. The family moved to Oklahoma, so Darlene could be closer to her Oklahoma roots. They lived in Clinton and then moved to Oklahoma City.In 1972 Darlene married Rick Endsley. Rick was a knight in shining armor! He scooped up this readymade family with lots of love, fun, and adventure. Rick legally adopted the three children and soon, Amy was born and enjoyed the pampering of her older siblings. The family then moved to Lubbock, and that became home for Tammy.Tammy attended Evans Junior High and Monterey High School, where she excelled as an honor student, served on the student council, and was a spunky cheerleader. Her hobbies were spending time with all of her friends, especially Jaquie and Traci, swimming in their backyard pool, cheering, hanging out with family, and doting on her baby sister, Amy. Tammy was known for her bubbly, outgoing, and positive personality. She loved music, getting her hair just right, and having much-animated fun with family and friends.For Tammy’s high school prom she really wanted a special dress, unlike any other in Lubbock. Her adoring Dad, Rick Endsley, jumped into action, and they hopped on a plane to Dallas for a shopping spree. He wanted to get her the MOST unique dress so Tammy could be the Belle of the Ball! AND of course, she was!! She could’ve worn a burlap sack and still been the Belle of the Ball!!Every birthday Tammy requested that her mom Darlene make a special cake. One time just before the big birthday dinner, the cake came out of the oven and fell apart. So Darlene laughed and dumped it in a bowl, put icing and a candle on it, and called it a DUMP CAKE. Tammy never requested a White Coconut Cake again.Tony, Tammy, and Tina would walk home from elementary school together, carrying their metal lunch boxes. Tony carried Superman, Tina Frankenstein, and Tammy Barbie. Even though Tony was the oldest, the two sisters would gang-up on him. This day Tony was jacking with Tammy behind her, pushing her and she, having had enough, turned around and waylaid him right in the nose with her Barbie lunch box. With a bruised and bloody nose, Tony left her alone the rest of the walk.Tammy spoiled little sister Amy with attention. When a storm would come and scare Amy, Tammy would clean out the closet and fill it with Amy’s toys and bring in snacks. The two sisters would huddle together and play while the storm passed.Tammy graduated high school in 1983 and worked as a legal secretary at Carr, Evans, Fouts and Hunt.Tammy loved working for Southwest Airlines! She was based in Phoenix and then Chicago. She fit right into this fast-paced life as she traveled across the country, making new friends and memories for eight years. Her friends jokingly teased, Tammy can never make it to Happy Hour on time, but she always made her work flight at 5 am.Tammy was part of a “Pack” of girlfriends that had a great time together. One of her friends, Camille, had a handsome, exciting, entrepreneurial brother named Ben. Camille and Tina wanted to introduce these two beautiful people, and that’s where the magic started. Ben doted on her with flowers at her door in the morning, balloons on her car, notes, and special treats. Tammy fell head over heels for Ben and started attending shows and markets with him as he marketed his soon to be famous candles. Ben, with much foresight, had the brilliant idea to buy a building and land south of town on Slide to sell candles. Tammy left Southwest Airlines and decided to join Ben’s business venture. Tammy first wanted to name the gift shop Coyote Country Club; however, they decided on Coyote Candle Company, and a thriving business was born! Neither Tammy nor Ben had retail experience, they started going to markets together and discovered Tammy has a natural talent for design. They listened to their customers and gave them what they wanted, and the store grew to one of the most successful retail businesses in Texas. Tammy absolutely loved going with Ben to the Las Vegas Market and staying at the Trump Casino. Ben says customers always asked for Tammy by name. They specifically wanted her help because she has a way of making people smile and feel special.Tammy and Ben were soulmates and shared not only their business but also a love for dogs. They have at least a dozen of the luckiest fur babies in all of Texas. Their first dog together was Bongo, then Rosie and then another and another. Pretty soon, the dog radar message center was sending out messages to all the dog friends that this was the best place in town for a dog to live. The dogs were part of the business and at the shop every day. They were in love with Tammy!Ben has a passion for racing because his father and grandfather built race tracks and drag strips. Car racing is in Ben’s DNA. Tammy was introduced to racing and quickly developed the same passion. At one race, Tammy was jumping up and down so much, they all had to help her find her jewelry that had bounced off the bleachers. She loved going to the races! It didn’t matter how long her day was; she was always there to cheer on John Carney, Jake Bubak, and Ben’s team. I firmly believe they won ALL the races because Tammy was the best cheerleader EVER!Ben and Tammy were in the process of building a home, and she had one very special request. Tammy was sooooo thoughtful! She insisted on having a gift-wrapping room. That girl never missed a gift-giving opportunity for family and friends.Traveling continued to be a passion for Tammy with family trips to Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and Israel. The spiritual experience in Israel gave Tammy a renewed focus. Her faith and Walk with Jesus took on a new light. She enjoyed attending church at Victory Life with her nephew, Brandon Endsley.Tammy had a gift of making people feel special, especially the children in her life; her step-son, Corbin, nieces, and nephews were all showered with love, time, and attention. She played a major role in helping raise 3 of her nieces and nephews.  Shelby considered her a second mom and spent many summers with Ben and Tammy.  Brandon affectionately called her “Cake” as a child because she made him so many cakes. Shane, even though he was in Austin, could rely on Tammy having a pizza delivered to his door if he barely mentioned he was hungry.It’s obvious when you visit Coyote Candle Company, the employer/employee relationship is more than business; it’s a family. Jokes, parties, celebrating, and affection for all is a daily practice. She sincerely loved and appreciated all the people that worked at Coyote Candle Company.Tammy was fun, generous, beautiful, and notorious for being late! It was a running joke with family, friends and herself about being late. It really didn’t matter how late she arrived, because once she appeared, the room lit up with her vivacious personality and her bright smile. We all loved her so dearly.Tammy was remarkable beauty, but her inner light was the sunshine to all those that knew her.We will miss you sweetie!Survivors include her spouse, Ben Aufill and son Corbin; father, Rick Endsley; mother, Darlene Odom; brother, Tony DiGiovanni his wife, Patsy and daughter Karli; sisters, Tina Rackler her husband, Kerry and son Brandon; Amy Endsley and children Shane and Shelby; Kimberly Ross her husband, Jeremy and sons Tyler and Blake Ross; and Erin Mata and sons Wyatt and Austin; sister-in-laws Camille McBride her husband, Scot and children Liam and Bradshaw, and Jennifer Aufill; and mother-in-law, Catherine Clement. Thousands of beloved friends and many fur babies.