Tamera Jo Watson

Traverse City – Tamera Jo Watson, 60, of Traverse City passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 2, 2025. Tamera was born on March 20, 1965, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Pauline Evelyn (Short) Hammond and Joseph Leonard Watson. Beautiful, creative, smart, silly, loving - these words just touch the surface on describing Tamera. She was fancy and artsy and spread her cheerful flair on everything she did. Growing up, instead of watching TV, she often gathered her siblings to perform skits and sing songs to entertain family and friends. She had a natural gift for playing the piano and taught herself to play by ear, never reading a note of music. And not just chopsticks either, but songs ranging from Bach and Mozart to Styx and Meatloaf, plus many she wrote herself. In 1982, she displayed her talent on the piano and was crowned Miss Kalkaska, a title she represented proudly. At Kalkaska High School, she was a member of the competitive cheerleading squad that won numerous awards at regional, state, national, and world competitions. After high school, she stayed local for a little while and then spread her wings and moved to California where she lived for 28 years. While there she blossomed and immersed herself in her work managing high-profile night clubs and then working in international banking. Her banking clients included several Hollywood celebrities and Oscar-winning producers and directors that she loved to serve. Missing home, she moved back to northern Michigan in 2015 to be near family. She loved her jobs and kept busy working for State Savings Bank in Frankfort and Traverse City, and for Bill Calcutt of Calcutt Law. She also doted on the loves of her life, her cats Motif, Finnley, and Lilly. Tamera was an inspiration to many and had such a generous giving heart, not just to loved ones, but to strangers in need. She often sought opportunities to help others, including recently funding the building of water wells in a third-world country. Her tight-knit family will never fill the huge hole now present in each of their hearts at the loss of their dear daughter and sister. She is forever loved and will be greatly missed. Tamera is survived by her parents Pauline Hammond of Traverse City, MI, and Joseph (Nancy Simmons) Watson of Avon Park, FL; siblings Christina Musselman, LaShelle (Ken) VanHouten, Jeannine (Trent) Taylor, Stephanie (Adam) Drewery, Larry Hammond II, and Heather Hammond; step-siblings Birdie (Megan) Buckley-Ball, and Jeff (Cynthia) Ball; and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces. Tamera was preceded in death by her stepfather Larry Hammond Sr., stepmother Diane Watson, brother-in-law M. Charles Musselman, and nephew Blake Brintzenhoff. She will be laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Kalkaska. At Tamera’s request, the family will celebrate her life at a private gathering on a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Cherryland Humane Society and/or Hospice of Michigan. The family would especially like to thank the staff at French Manor Terra and Hospice of Michigan for your amazing care, support, and love for Tamera. You made her feel comfortable and at home. They would also like to thank Tamera's employers, State Savings Bank and Bill Calcutt, for your generosity and compassion. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

Tamera Jo Watson

March 20, 1965 - November 2, 2025