Tamara Ann Bateman

March 28, 1945 - January 31, 2021

Tamara (Tami) Ann Bateman, 75, of Moses Lake, passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2021. Tami was born to the late John B. Bateman and Wilma Yvonne (Rogers) Bateman in Rupert, Idaho in 1945. Shortly thereafter, the young Bateman family relocated to Payette, Idaho where her surviving siblings Tony and Diana were born. In the early 50’s the Bateman family moved first to Othello, then Moses Lake. Father John farmed and developed land throughout the Columbia Basin soon to become Chairman of the Columbia Basin Association of Farmers. After graduating from Moses Lake High School in 1963, Tami married the late Richard H. “Rich" Akridge after completing his US Army service in Korea as a Helicopter mechanic and returning to Moses Lake. Their sons, Jeffry (Jeff) Akridge and Christopher (Chris) Akridge, current residents of Moses Lake, were raised in Bellevue. Washington. Their family was a constant in outdoor adventures, creative projects, and sports with friends and family members always welcomed to participate. A loving mother and creative homemaker, Tami was a wonderful cook who enjoyed preparing meals for her family members and friends, most especially over the holidays. The simplest pleasures in life brought her great joy. Finding humor in life’s most mundane circumstances endeared her to everyone who crossed her path. Her smile and kind words could always lighten the mood of any gathering or simple get together. She could just as easily bring a room to rolling laughter with her sharp wit. In 2006 she was diagnosed having cancer (Multiple Myeloma). She was a strong fighter and kept living a productive life for many years, far exceeding all professional prognoses. In 2016, Tami moved back to Moses Lake to be near her sons. Even through her last years of setbacks and pain she always did her best to display strength with little complaint when others would have broken. Through her, we know what true resilience is. Tami is also survived by two grandchildren, Wyatt and Payton Akridge, nephew Joshua Kirchner and many extended family members. Our family would like to sincerely thank the entire Brookdale Hearthstone staff, Assured Hospice, and Chaplin Paul Wagner. Your kind and loving care was immeasurable in her final journey throughout January. A woman of talent, courage, and love. How lucky we were to have had something that makes saying goodbye so difficult. In honoring Tami’s request, there won’t be any formal services.