Tamara Lynn (Jabs) Borden

Memorial Services for Tamara Lynn Borden (Jabs), 66, recently of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, who died peacefully at home on October 17, 2025, will be held Thursday, October 30 at 2:00 pm at Mitchell Berean Church in Mitchell, Nebraska with Pastor Ben Phillips officiating. An additional service will be in Loveland, Colorado on November 7. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Tamara was born January 21, 1959, at Rose Memorial Hospital in Denver, Colorado, to Frederick Jabs and Karen Reininger. Her early education was through the Jefferson County school system where she graduated from Jefferson High School in Edgewater, Colorado. Over time, she would take classes in both college and trade schools. These included, among others: drafting, interior design, business management and home organization.

Tamara married Kenneth Wayne Borden on September 3rd, 1977, at Calvary Temple in Denver, Colorado. They made their home together in numerous places: Ogallala, NE, Manchester, CT, Columbia, MO, Brighton, CO and eventually landed in Scottsbluff, NE.

Survivors include her husband Ken, her daughter Darcy Marie Borden King and her husband Brendan, her son, Jeffrey Lloyd Borden, her mother Karen Hildreth, her sister and brother-in-law Karla and Scott Sullivan and their daughter Katie Jo.

Tamara grew where she was planted. A fitting metaphor for someone who loved to garden, but her experience and skills grew as she adapted due to the many moves, she and Ken made.

Her first job was as a florist and flower arranger. Her flying fingers made her a superb typist as a secretary in numerous jobs such as Mountain Bell, The University of Missouri Agricultural Economics Department, and eventually working as sales assistant, meeting and promotions planner and executive secretary, most notably for KOOL105 in Denver, Colorado. She even had what she called her “Dam job” meeting planning for two professional organizations: The U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage and The United States Society on Dams.

All of that training prepared her for entrepreneurship as she began to aid others in sorting and de-cluttering their homes; she would also buy and sell collectables and have her own booth at the Old Wagon Wheel market in Northglenn, CO.

Her ever-caring spirit led her to her final job (besides remodeling homes and rentals with her husband), as caretaker for her dear friend Gwen, who was part of P.E.O., a philanthropic association designed to raise scholarship funds for women headed to college. Here, Tamara’s confidence in public speaking and leadership blossomed.

Wherever she moved and whatever job she took, she showed great flexibility. She was committed, loyal and ever cheerful.

Always trying new things, her hobbies included reading, gardening, painting, remodeling, cooking with her children, large dogs, swimming and jet-skiing on Lake McConaughy in Nebraska, and listening to people. She loved and accepted people instantly and made them comfortable. And, while you might not consider it a hobby, her love for Jesus and how he wished us to treat others was evident through her actions. She was not one to boast or complain and, as her children will attest, she was always consistently, in her words, wishing to be, “kind and fair.”

Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.