Tamara Michelle Shotts

Tamara Michelle Johnson’s life began at birth in Washington, D.C. to her mother and father, Dawn and Scott Johnson. They were soon joined by her younger sister KK, and two younger brothers Daniel and Jeremy. Scott was a military man and the family lived a transitory life, living in places like Kentucky, Hawaii and Alabama.

Tamara graduated from Enterprise High School and shortly after was considering becoming a pilot, when she met Christopher Riley Shotts at the officer’s club in Fort Rucker, Alabama. It was the beginning of a relationship that lasted over thirty years.

They soon eloped, and were legally married making Tamara a military wife. They then moved to Germany. Here they had a son who would carry his father’s name, but they called him Riley. Shortly after Chris was deployed for Operation Desert Storm, and Tamara was learning for the first time how to live on her own in another country while raising a baby boy.

Soon after the family found themselves stationed back in Ft. Rucker Alabama and were blessed with a beautiful baby daughter they named Chelsea Renee Shotts. The family of four traveled from Alabama to North Carolina, to Arizona, to Colorado, back to Germany, then once more back to Alabama. Finally they traveled to Kansas, to Washington, and finally Oregon after 24 years as an Army family.

Tamara considered her children the greatest gift to the world and was proud of her family. She loved them so much and was fiercely protective of them. She also never forgot to have fun with them. Visits to museums and the library, hiking, beach days, and movie nights were some of the many ways she loved spending time with her family. She loved roller skating and disco, antique shopping, sight seeing and learning about new places, and spending time with her family and friends.

Tamara’s love translated naturally when she earned her bachelor’s degree at Methodist College in Fayetteville, NC and became a special education teacher. She loved teaching like she loved being a mother, and helped an incalculable number of children become productive adults. She took care of her students like she did her family through all the things expected of a mother and military living at the turn of the century in a rapidly changing world. Through it all she was always laughing, singing and dancing, learning and encouraging others to be their best selves, by trying her best to live up to that expectation.

Tamara’s gift to the world was her big heart. She cared so much about the people around her and it really showed in her action and advocacy throughout her life. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Tamara continued on to get her master’s degree from The University of Phoenix in specific learning disabilities, and beat the cancer.

Her experience teaching in every grade from kindergarten to high school fed her passion for special education. She was a tireless advocate for others, encouraging authenticity in everyone. She loved to listen and share, taking her kids on new adventures and learning about new places. For many, she was a safe space and source of comfort, an inspiration to try harder, to do better.

While living with Chris in Oregon who had now retired from the military, Tamara’s passion as a special educator led her on a new journey. In 2017 she took on a new career in administration at a special education school in Doha, Qatar. Living in Doha gave her a fresh perspective and new vigor for life. She traveled to places like Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, and the Maldives. Her heart grew to love people from all over the world.

She aspired to help others develop schools and to help children all over the world but also wanted to reunite and reconcile with her family. She returned to Oregon, and was taking steps to do just that, when she died unexpectedly on October 5th, 2025.

Tamara could strike up a conversation with a stranger, or catch up with a student who remembered her from years earlier. They all remember her for her kindness and strength, especially compared to her notably smaller stature. Despite her size, she left a big impact on her world. She is deeply loved and will be dearly missed by those who were lucky enough to know her.