Tammy was born July 24, 1960, in Manhattan, Kansas, the daughter of Everett Piper and Linda Winklepleck Bowman.  She attended local schools and graduated from St. George High School in 1978.  She then graduated from Emporia State University in nursing.

She married Lonnie Lakin on October 26, 1979 in St. George, Kansas.  He survives at their home.

Tammy was a homemaker.  She loved the beach and spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren.  Tammy also enjoyed scrap booking.

Tammy is also survived by her daughter, Shannon Lakin, Kansas City, Missouri; her sons, Jason Lakin and his wife, Alycea, Belvue and Tanner Lakin and his wife, Brittany, Jacksonville, North Carolina; her father, Everett Piper and his wife, Linda, Wamego; her mother, Linda Bowman, Kansas City, Missouri; and her aunt and uncle, Ricki and Steve Shaw, St. George, her grandmother, Margie Winklepleck, Manhattan, three grandchildren, Payton Lakin, Olivia Brown and Landon Lakin; step-sisters, Brenda Tebbutt, St. George, Brandy Nowakowski, St. George; step-brothers, Rod Shaw, Topeka, Matt Piper, Wamego. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 3, 2010, at Campanella-Evans Mortuary in Wamego.  Reverend Dr. Tony Mattia will be officiating.  Burial will follow in St. George Cemetery.  Mrs. Lakin will lie-in-state starting at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday,  at the mortuary where the family will greet friends from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.  They suggest memorial contributions to the Tammy Lakin Memorial Fund to be used for Dolphin conservation and those may be sent in care of the mortuary.  Online condolences may be made at www.campanellafuneral.com.