Tara Jane Chambless

Tara J. Chambless died on August 19th, 2024, at 64 years old. She was born on July 16, 1960, in Bremerton, Washington, in the old Harrison Hospital, and she died in University Place, Washington, at the Virginia Mason Hospice House. Tara resided in Bremerton, Washington, with her husband, Thomas Chambless.

Tara earned her high school diploma at the North Seattle Community College and then received an associate's degree. She got a second associate degree from Pierce College while stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord.

Tara Chambless served in the U.S. Army for 16 years, from October 30, 1985, to February 11, 2002. She would have gone on to retirement but became medically unqualified for retention in the service. She spent over three years of her service in foreign deployments. While in service, she earned many awards, including two Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, two Overseas Medals, and other awards.

While stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Tara met her husband, Thomas, a service member. They were married on December 21st, 2001. Tara became a homemaker living in Spanaway, Washington. Tom and Tara found a home in Bremerton and moved there in 2009.

Tara was a member of the GFWC (General Federation of Women's Clubs) and the Bremerton Backpack Brigade, which distributes food to schoolchildren. She helped St. Paul's mission on some Saturdays with the Salvation Army soup kitchen.
Tara's interests included reading books of various genres and gardening.

Tara is survived by her husband of 22 years, Thomas; her two sons, Adam Kimball and Thomas Kimball, both of Provo, Utah; her mother, Evelyn (King) Oman; and her father, Gary Oman, of Sun City West, Arizona. She is also survived by her sister, Lori Kalchert, of Chandler, Arizona. She is survived by her brother, Daniel Sunkel, in Tennessee. She is also survived by another brother, Douglas Sunkel, in West Virginia.

Tara's viewing will be at Lewis Chapel Funeral Home in Bremerton, Washington on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 3 PM.

The funeral service will be on September 4th, 2024, at 1:00 PM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 700 Callahan Dr., Bremerton, Washington. A reception will follow the service. The burial will follow at 3:00 PM at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Bremerton, Washington.

Thomas asks that memorial donations go to the Bremerton Backpack Brigade: https://www.bremertonbackpackbrigade.org/donate

Arrangements are trusted to the Lewis Funeral Chapel in Bremerton, Washington.