Obituary of Tammy-Laine Cox Early

Tammy-Laine Cox Early, 58, Peoria, died Nov. 4, 2023. A courageous fighter who overcame breast cancer 12 years ago, she lost her final battle while awaiting a liver transplant.

Tammy was born Oct. 7, 1965, in Santa Ana, California, to Raymond George Cox and Vivian Rasmussen and moved to Arizona when she was just a baby. She grew up in north Phoenix and graduated in 1983 from Deer Valley High School, where she was active in Future Farmers of America (FFA). Tammy married her soulmate, Keith Early, on May 21, 1988.

She was a force of nature, and everyone who knew Tammy would call her a strong woman. Whether fighting breast cancer, blazing her work path in a male-dominated field, or devoting time to her community, Tammy was fearless, and demonstrated that strength time and time again.

She was a hard worker and always had a job from the time she was old enough to work. Early on she held clerical and service jobs and especially enjoyed waitressing at the cafe in Crown King, a community she loved visiting since she was a small child. Tammy worked in a variety of roles in the telecommunications field in Phoenix for 27 years, starting with the development of the internet infrastructure to the design of fiber-optic feeds to residential and commercial customers.

She excelled at rallying others to support the organizations and causes she believed in, especially the American Legion Auxiliary, where she held many offices including president of John J. Morris Unit 62 in Peoria from 2019 to 2021. She was nationally recognized as public relations ambassador in 2021. When she moved to Black Canyon City in 1992, Tammy recognized the community’s need for emergency medical response and stepped up to become an emergency medical technician with the volunteer fire department.

Tammy was an amazing wife and mother, and she will be remembered for her love and commitment to her family, her friends and her community. She loved nurturing life: raising her sons, Neil and Tyler; tending to her garden; and caring for her pets. She was happiest when she was outdoors, and cherished her escapes to camp and fish.

She was passionate about many topics and never hesitated to share her opinions. She was always quick with a snarky comment, and was famous for her quirky sense of humor. A person of principle, Tammy was admired for her courage, her patriotism, and her loyalty.

Tammy was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Neil. She is survived by her husband, Keith; her son, Tyler; her grandsons, Matix, Easton and Hudson; her sister, Cindy Overby; and a multitude of family members and friends who loved and adored her.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the American Legion Unit 62, 9847 W. Desert Cove Ave., Peoria, AZ 85345. If you wish to honor Tammy, please consider being an organ donor and encourage others to give the gift of life. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 or Veterans First Ltd for the Heal Her Art program, 8433 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Suite 164, Phoenix, AZ 85021.