Tammi Kae Cooley was born to Quentin and Sherry (Leidle) Van Orman on May 25, 1967 in Hot Springs, South Dakota and received her angel wings on January 20, 2022. She was the first baby to be born in the new Southern Hills General Hospital in Hot Springs. She was welcomed by an older sister, Kristi and her younger brother, Scott, joined their family in 1969. Tammi attended the Hot Springs school district and graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1985.
Following graduation in 1985 she enlisted in the United States Army and after basic training, she was stationed in Germany. After returning from Germany, she was stationed in Ft. Polk, LA where she married Jimmy Roundtree and welcomed their son, Edward (Eddie), on July 10, 1988. Tammi and Eddie returned to South Dakota to be closer to family prior to her deployment to Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
Tammi and Eddie relocated to Orlando, FL in 1998. She was married to Jim Cooley on March 20, 1999. Jim adopted Eddie and Eddie changed his name to Jeffrey (Jay) Cooley. Following Tammi and Jim’s divorce, Tammi and Jay moved back to Hot Springs in 2003. She reenlisted in the Army in 2008, served during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2010 and was honorably discharged in 2012.
Tammi had an immense love for not only her son, Jay, but for her huskies. Tammi had both an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in accounting from WDTI and NAU, respectively. At the time of her death, Tammi resided in Rapid City and was the Executive Director at the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association.
She will be deeply missed by her son, Jay Cooley of Rapid City, her parents, Quentin and Sherry Van Orman of Hot Springs, sister, Kristi Spitzer of Hot Springs, brother Scott (Leslie) Van Orman of Lander, WY, niece, Hayley Merkel of Groton, SD, nephew, Tobie (Danny Mikimoto) Spitzer of La Habra, CA, great-nephew, Mac Merkel of Groton, SD and numerous extended family. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Don and Barbara Van Orman and Jake and Alpha Leidle.