Tamara Tamano Walker
Tamara Tamano Walker, July 13th, 1950 – January 16th, 2023 (72) St. Louis, Missouri
Tamara Tamano Walker, age 72, of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away Monday, January 16, 2023.
He was born July 13, 1950 in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to Robert and Katie (Richardson)
Walker.
Tamara and his brother, Ira, were raised by their mother, Katie, and step-father, Army Sergeant
Dwight D. Russell. As an “army brat,” he lived in several places throughout the United States
and Germany. He graduated from Junction City High School in Junction City, Kansas in 1968
while his family was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas.
Tamara attended St. Mary’s of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas. As a student, he played
on the college football team and received All Conference First Team Honors. While in college,
he met the love of his life, Mary Ann O’Donnell. They were married in 1971. He graduated
from St. Mary’s of the Plains College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in English. After
graduation, he and his beautiful wife spent a few years in Kansas City, Missouri before
ultimately settling in St. Louis, Missouri in 1977.
Tamara spent his entire career working for Southwestern Bell, now AT&T. He was a dedicated
Director with over 35 years of service. Tamara was a lover of golf, music, the St. Louis
Cardinals and his family, especially his grandchildren. Tamara exemplified hard-work,
kindness, and patience throughout his life. His generosity to family and friends was matched by
no other as he continuously lived by The Golden Rule and instilled this value in his
children. Tamara was special to all who knew and loved him and will be dearly missed.
Tamara is survived by his loving children, son David (Jami) Walker, grandchildren Haylie,
Devin, Savannah; son Adrian (Angie) Walker; son Justin Walker; daughter Kelly Rose Walker,
grandchildren Rian and Iyanna Jackson; and son Timothy Walker; grandchildren (Shannon
Walker) Christopher & Krystal Massey. He is also survived by his nephews Casey (Kirsten)
Walker and great nieces Nova and Skylynn; nephew Patrick (Leah) O’Donnell and great nieces
Shayla, Kalyn, Maille; sister-in-law Kathleen (Mullen) O’Donnell, and nieces Colleen and Beth.
Tamara was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather; his brother Ira Casanova Walker
(67), his wife Mary Ann (O’Donnell) Walker (38), daughter Shannon Marie Walker (37), and
daughter-in-law Cora Faith (Drew) Walker (37).
In Lieu of flowers please send your support to the Cora Faith Walker Foundation at
www.CoraFaithWalkerFoundation.org
A Private Family Celebration of Life will be held at St. Gerard’s of Kirkwood, Missouri. It will be
presided over by Father Thomas Poth (New York, New York). A private burial will follow at
Resurrection Cemetery, Affton, Missouri.
That is a beautiful obituary!! We admired Tamara so much. He was a fine man. I know how much he will be missed by his family. Our Love, Clarence and Liz Cooper
Very very fond memories of uncle Tamara and my cousins. Annual turkey day bball tournaments, and as kids running amuck in the house in the city. I remember my uncle as gentle and loving but firm. He had the patience of a saint and was always happy to be with family.
Lovely obituary of a good man–only met the one time but to have raised a great family such as he has, shows his strength and love for all of you. Lois and Colin Randall
I worked with Tamara at SBC for many years. He was so gentle and kind to everyone. My sympathy and prayers to his family. Mary Anne Montgomery
Tamara was a bright spot and level-headed, wise manager at Southwestern Bell. He had a good sense of humor and could take a joke at his expense. One of the high points in my career was working with him and the other talented, nutty brainiacs who worked in the DataGate group.
Tamara was a good friend and a kind soul. We worked together at SBC. He introduced me to the game of golf and patiently watched me hack my way through that first round. It has become a lifelong hobby that I now share with my own children. The world is a little sadder place without him.
I graduated from high school with Tamara and considered him one of the finest classmates I had at Junction City Senior High in Junction City, Kansas. Many of us always wondered where Tamara ended up. We were lucky to have him among us. I too was an Army Brat and naturally we related. I am so sorry for his family’s loss.
Tamara and Mary Ann lived for a few years just 2 doors up from my wife and I in Independence, MO in the early 1970s. My wife took care of David and Adrain for a while they worked. We fell in love with both of them. Visited with them in St. Louis when they lived there.