Tammy Ellen Masters

Tammy Ellen Masters (born Ellen Laurie Folkman) was a sweet, funny, loving, and devoted friend, sister, daughter, and aunt. Tammy was born in Newark, New Jersey, on August 17, 1951 to Jack Folkman and Lynn Masters. She passed away due to complications from cancer on February 11, 2013 in Tarzana, California, with her brother and nephew by her side.

Tammy moved to Southern California in 1966 with her sister Lynda and brother Howard. The three were inseparable during their entire lives. During the 1970’s and 80’s, Tammy worked as an extra in several films, including Office Girl (1978), FM (1978), and Private Benjamin (1980). In 1980, Tammy joined the army with her sister, Lori. She joined the Army National Guard in 1991. On May 26, 2006 Tammy became an officer with the title of First Lieutenant Reserve, and became a Sergeant in the 90th. She went on to become a Captain in her rank as an Army officer.

Tammy was passionate about two things: helping people and animals. Her love of helping people led her to pursue a degree in nursing. In 1990, Tammy graduated from Glendale Community College with her LVN. She graduated from Los Angles Valley College with the degree of Associate in Arts Nursing (ADN) with honors in January of 1996.

Tammy met her husband, James “Jokey” Lindsay while in the army in 1991. They married in Las Vegas on December 24, 1993 and together enjoyed the things they loved most – the T.V. show MASH, the Army, and helping others, including working with AIDS groups and supporting animal welfare efforts.

In 1997, Tammy and Jokey began to build a family together. They adopted two sibling kittens that were found in the alley at Tammy’s studio. They named them Bosco Brian and Brigitte Natasha. Soon after, they adopted a wiggly black puppy that they named Brittany Ann. Later, came Katie Lynn, JoJo Donnelle, Jessica Danielle, followed by Champ Joshua, a white feral cat named Jennifer, and a grey parrot.

Tammy worked on several long running shows while working as a nurse at Gower Studios in Hollywood. These shows included The Wayans Brothers, Six Feet Under, and Dexter. She was a dedicated nurse who loved her shows and her co-workers.

Tammy also was an avid animal lover and rescuer, and took this passion very seriously. She went to New Orleans as a volunteer after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to help rescue animal victims of the hurricane. She worked at home to facilitate adoptions and animal rescues, and she tirelessly ensured her own animals had the best care they could possibly receive.

Tammy experienced several recent and significant losses in her life, including the death of her sister Lynda, her husband Jokey, her mother Lynn, and her “babies” Brittany and Bosco. Although we will all miss Tammy terribly, we should find solace in knowing that she has reunited with her dearly missed loved ones. Tammy is survived by her brother, Howard Folkman, sister Lori Buckley, nieces Chori Folkman (Zach Jarvis) and Jessie Folkman, nephews Lance Oksner and Clark Williams, and grand nephew Maxwell Folkman Jarvis. She will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends, and will be remembered for her kindness, humor, and love, and her endless dedication and passion for helping people and animals.