Tamara J. Wendel, 52, of Pleasant Hill, MO died Monday, May 3, 2010 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, MO. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010 at Our Lady of Loudes Catholic Church in Harrisonville, MO. Visitation 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 5 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville with prayer service at 8:00 p.m. Burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. Memorial contributions may be made to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64137 or to Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.

Tamara was born March 22, 1958 in Frankfurt, Germany, the daughter of Richard Gene and Shirley M. (Smith) Crawford. She married Robert "Bob" Lee Wendel on December 17, 1990.

Tamara worked as an LPN at a nursing home. She was an avid nature and animal lover and rescued many stray animals. She had a big heart and a boisterous sense of humor and laugh. She always took care of others and wanted them to be happy. Tamara touched many lives.

Tamara was preceded in death by her father, Richard Crawford and one sister, Patricia Crawford. She is survived by her husband, Bob of the home; her mother, Shirley Crawford of Harrisonville, MO; two brothers, Nels Crawford and his wife, Donna of Drexel, MO and Eric Crawford of Grandview, MO; three sisters, Susan Larrabee and her husband, Jim of Lee's Summit, MO, Sister Kristin Crawford of Decatur, IL and Mary Willett and her husband, Myles of Raymore, MO and several nieces and nephews.