Tamra Kay (Barker) Sandstrom

Tamra Kay Barker Sandstrom

1965 ~ 2025

Our beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, Grammy, aunt, cousin, and friend Tamra Kay Barker Sandstrom passed away on June 27, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer (multiple myeloma). Tammy was born in Burley, Idaho, to Ruel and Kay Barker on August 24,1965. She loved her Idaho roots and her heritage. Tammy loved weekend trips to the ranch to breathe in the Elba air, attend the fair and rodeo, and take long walks around the block.

At the age of four, Tammy’s family moved to Utah County, where she attended Grandview Elementary and Dixon Junior High. She graduated from Provo High School in 1983. In those early years, Tammy made a lot of lifelong friends growing up on Grandview Hill.  She was an active participant in various school programs: student government, FBLA, AUM Sorority, cross country and flag twirling. 

Following graduation, Tammy attended Brigham Young University, where again she made a lot of lifelong friends. She was a member of the BYU International Folk Dance, which allowed her to travel all over the United States and different countries, sharing her talents. Tammy graduated with a bachelor's degree in Community Health in 1990. She used her degree to teach a variety of health classes, and she had her own CPR certification business. Tammy helped many young women, neighbors, and friends become certified. She believed knowledge was power.

Tammy served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Massachusetts Boston Mission, speaking Spanish. She again built lasting friendships with many of the people that she served. Tammy had a strong testimony of the Savior’s Atonement and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She had a personal relationship with her Savior. Tammy spent countless hours in service in the Young Women and Relief Society programs. She planned and executed many girls camps, treks, and youth conferences.

Tammy met and married Mike Sandstrom in 1988, while still attending BYU. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Jacksonville, Florida. While in Florida, they had their first daughter, Kaylee, and shortly after she was born, they moved back to Utah to be closer to family. They began to plant their family roots in Holladay, where they lived for ten years. While living in Holladay, Tammy and Mike welcomed Lindsay and Connor into their family. During their time in Holladay, Tammy made more lifelong connections while serving in various callings in their ward. In 2002, Mike and Tammy built a home and moved to Highland, Utah, where Parker joined their family.

Tammy loved the outdoors. She could often be found walking, running, or biking with friends, and she completed many races. She loved afternoon trips to the canyon, four-wheeler rides, and trips out on the boat. Her favorite vacations were making annual trips to Lake Powell, exploring new cities, and traveling to Orlando with her family. She was an expert at planning and orchestrating family reunions, and she loved building and nurturing family connections.

Tammy was a great team mom and loved supporting her kids in their activities. Her kids knew just how important they were to their mom, and she always encouraged them to develop their talents. She had a great love for her grandkids as well. They each had a special connection and bond with Tammy. She also showed up and supported her nieces and nephews as well.

Tammy exemplified the Savior’s call to minister to the one. She was often the first neighbor to reach out with a call, a kind note, or one of her trademark Tammy hugs. She truly understood what it meant to love God and love the people around her. Through her Christlike love, Tammy built friendships with people who loved God’s children as well. Her family will be forever grateful for her relationship with and the influence of her Angel friends.

Tammy is survived by her husband, Mike: her children: Kaylee (Craig) Steele, Connor (Alexa) Sandstrom, and Parker (Adri) Sandstrom; and her five grandchildren: Tanner Steele, Lacey Steele, Peyton Sandstrom, Molly Steele, and Kinsley Sandstrom. She is also survived by her mother, Kay Barker, her mother-in-law, Judy Sandstrom, and her siblings: Traci (Matt) Branham, Tiffany (Matt) Carter, and Tyler (Amanda) Barker. She is preceded in death by her father, Ruel Barker, her father in-law, John Sandstrom, her daughter, Lindsay Sandstrom, and many aunts and uncles.

We will be forever grateful to Dr. Douglas Sborov and the many members of his medical team at Huntsman Cancer Institute who took great care of Tammy. She continued to build many meaningful relationships until the end of her life.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Highland South Stake Center, 9626 North 6800 West Highland, Utah. Friends may visit the church on Tuesday, July 1st, from 6:00-8:00 pm and Wednesday, 9:30-10:30 am, prior to the funeral services. Interment will be in the Highland City Cemetery. To view the services for Tammy please click this link. https://www.youtube.com/live/viGIaKOsfWs 

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