Tara Youells

TARA "TAMMI" YOUELLS

Cedar Rapids

Tara "Tammi" Youells, 63, of Cedar Rapids, died Sept. 22, 2017, after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

She was born in Boone, Iowa, the middle daughter of Bill and Val (McFadden) Youells. She attended school in Boone, Council Bluffs and Cedar Rapids, where she graduated from Kennedy High School in 1971. Tara went on to receive her B.A. degree in social work from the University of Iowa.

In 1975, she married her high school sweetheart, Chris Carman, and they became true partners in life.

In addition to Chris, Tara is survived by son, Ryan (fiancee Felicia); daughter, Lia (husband Elsworth); and grandson, Harvey (beloved toy Lovey Bear). Her sister, Randi Youells of Cedar Rapids, also survives her and was Tara's shopping and sparring partner from an early age. Her Aunt Dawn and Uncle Roger Anderberg of Cedar Rapids also survive her.

She was preceded in death by younger sister, Shaun; mother, Val; father, Bill; and brother-in-law, Frank Gerry.

Tara spent her career providing support and advocacy for people left out of society's mainstream, including those who were poor, elderly, intellectually challenged, homeless or emotionally fragile. She was not genetically wired to take direction from a supervisor within a traditional organization (and there are stories, believe us), but she fought hard to better the lives of people left on the fringes. She also excelled at working with volunteers who put in countless hours serving people in need or hurting. Tara worked at ARC, DHS, Abbe Community Care, Johnson County Mental Health Center, Faith-In-Action (as director), Hospice of Mercy and Free Community Health Clinic.

She was loved by many, found to be irksome by a few, but she always focused on helping others. A co-worker in Johnson County said, "Tara worked with people that society considered the lowest of the low, but she treated them as the highest of the high.''

She loved her family fiercely and was deeply loved in return. Her passions included baking, gardening, dogs, children, mystery books, good food, semi-cheating at cards and a very dry gin martini with three green olives. She LOVED being a grandma and was able to delight in her grandson, Harvey, for almost two years.

In addition to ovarian cancer, Tara successfully fought breast cancer in 1998. Tara was both a breath of fresh air and a force of nature. We were blessed to have her sweep through our lives. We mourn our loss, but are relieved she is no longer tethered to a body riddled with cancer.

We are grateful for the compassionate care she received from numerous CNAs, nurses and doctors both at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Mercy Medical Center, most notably Dr. Michael Goodheart and Dr. Erin Salinas at UIHC and Dr. Sam Wood and Dr. Wayne Alberts at Mercy. We also are immensely grateful to Hospice of Mercy nurse Cindy Stoddard, who helped us so much during Tara's final weeks.

A Celebration of Life for Tara will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, 4200 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Guests may visit with the family starting at 10 a.m. the day of the service.

Please leave a message for the family on the website www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tara Youells Family for several causes dear to Tara's heart.