Tamara Curfew Morrill Peltier

Tamara Curfew Morrill Peltier, of Jensen, Utah passed on 26 July 2024 at her home surrounded by family. Tamara was born in Jensen at her grandmother Sarah’s home on 11 May 1940. She was born into a large, active family on both her mother’s and father’s side. Most of her growing-up years were in Jensen on a ranch. She learned the value of work at a young age and passed that value on to her children and grandchildren. 

Tamara was active in many 4-H activities including homemaking, sewing, and raising livestock. She excelled in sewing competitions as well as raising championship livestock. She attended Uintah High School in Vernal, but her parents moved to Pleasant Valley at the beginning of her senior year, resulting in her finishing school, and graduating from Union High in Roosevelt. 

Tamara was awarded a scholarship to attend Utah State University in Logan. Her mother placed a high value on a college education and was excited for the opportunity provided to Tamara. Unfortunately (or fortunately) she chose not to attend Utah State University because she met a young man named Lyn Morrill while living in Pleasant Valley. They fell in love and were married 2 June 1958—just a few days after Tamara graduated from high school. Lyn worked construction, like his father Alfred, during the first few years of marriage. Tamara took a job as a telephone operator to supplement their income. Soon, babies started to join their family. In 1965 they decided to try their luck at farming back in Jensen.

Lyn was not a farmer, but Tamara had a lot of experience and her father, Dee, was an expert farmer. Lyn and Tamara went into business with Dee and Ora and started the Curfew & Morrill Hog Farm. The business was a success and provided a good living for both families. Tamara was a critical driver in the success of the business. She received recognition for her expertise and service in agriculture including FHA Farm Family of the Year, committee leader of the Uintah Basin Jr. Livestock Show, leader of Jensen Better Livestock Club, and the Uintah County Cattlemen’s Association Legacy Award. 

A few years after Lyn passed, Tamara married Hank Peltier from Dry Fork. They were happy together while working the combined farm and ranch land in Jensen, Dry Fork, and Diamond Mountain. They loved to have their grandchildren visit them on the farm—Tamara always had a list of tasks needing done to keep the grandkids busy.

Tamara was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in numerous callings throughout her life and was a temple worker for many years. Tamara and Hank served a church mission to Nauvoo, Illinois in 2009 where she worked as a tour guide in many of the historic Nauvoo buildings. They loved their mission and the enduring relationships they made.

Tamara loved family history and temple work. She dedicated many hours each week to completing family history research and creating memory books that captured family histories. She was a member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers and enjoyed the activities with the other members. 

Tamara is survived by five children: Lynnette, Greg (Rebecca), Brent (Julie), Tonja (Ben), and Tamilyn, two honorary children: Rosita Yazzie and Vernita Yazzie as well as five stepchildren: Rian (Earleen), Arleigh (Kent), Hal, Valerie, and Keith (Brenda). She is also survived by sibling-in-laws LaRae Perry, Ilene Mellin, and Joan Livingston. She had a great love for many people; among those are Victoria Peltier, Michael Wingert, Andrew Young, Charity Harer, and Alejo (Alex) Medel S. as well as dozens of cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Tamara greatly enjoyed her 43 grandchildren and 66 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her first husband Lyn, second husband Hank, parents, sister Deborah Clark, bothers Verl Dee (Joey) Curfew and John Herbert Curfew, grandson Henry Cole Peltier, grandson Colby Wyatt Lofthouse, great-granddaughter Brisa Faith Curtis, daughter-in-law Marci Peltier, son-in-law Herm Hoops, and many in-laws. 

Funeral service will be held on 3 August 2024, at 12 pm at the Jensen chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be held on 2 August 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary and again before the service at the Jensen chapel from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Interment will be in the Jensen Cemetery under the direction of the Blackburn Mortuary.

The family would like to thank the members of the Jensen Ward and Rocky Mountain Home Care—with a special thanks to Harmony and Elsha—for their service