Tammy Silverstein

On March 20th, Tammy Curtis Silverstein passed away peacefully, at home in Missouri City, TX on her 51st birthday. Born in Dallas to Arbye Lee Curtis III and Kay Sherrill Curtis, Tammy traveled throughout the states, and internationally as her dad pursued his career in the oil and gas industry. Tammy learned to be a hard worker from her dad, and ever since her early teens, strived for perfection in any job or project she pursued. While raising her two sons in Dallas, Tammy made her way into project management, and took on complex tasks. Following her success in Dallas, she moved to Houston, to be near her dad and step-mom, and entered the oil & gas industry, first as a logistics consultant to a major O&G company, and then to privately-held firms where she played fundamental roles in office management and offshore logistics. Tammy was always headstrong and determined to show what she could do, while always putting the needs of others before her. "Children and grandchildren first" was her motto, and she lived up to it. While raising her children, Tammy never missed a football or baseball game, driving hundreds of roundtrip miles for practices, games and BMX competitions. She was passionate about her grandchildren, having learned that passion from her grandmother, Audrey Mae Sherrill, or "Lala" as Tammy called her. She lived to make them happy, and to give them every chance for success. Tammy ensured her grandchildren never lacked for anything. Her favorite moments were when she had them for "Mimi" sleep over dates. They would play video games and watch movies until the early morning hours. She never stopped talking about her trip to Orlando with one of her grandchildren and niece. She was so determined to take that trip again, but her disease's progression put a halt to that dream. Though a hard worker and provider, Tammy also found time for her friends - always the fun-loving one in the group, she brought smiles and laughter to those around her. Her "BFF" threesome would celebrate their birthdays, with her last celebration taking her to Cabo for some fun in the sun. If Tammy was throwing a party, all wanted to be there. The inside joke was "but officer, it's my birthday...." Tammy's passion for music was unsurpassed. She was the wind beneath the wings of her sons' appreciation for music, and you can hear it in her son, Wes' voice who will be singing at her celebration. Share her passion by subscribing to Tammy's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmZXKR2QWBPD9gtfttVf63w . Tammy passed away from a brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme grade 4 - the deadliest type of brain cancer. She put up a good fight - for 14 ½ months, and could have continued, but she was tired, and decided to "lay it down." We honor her bravery - it takes a hero to fight that long, and know when to surrender. But Tammy always felt the true heroes in the fight against cancer are the children afflicted with this disease. All too often, she would see the youngsters being wheeled through the hospital hallways, on the way to chemo, radiation, MRIs or surgery. She was amazed at the strength they showed as they fought. She also understood the pain their parents were going through, and the mountains of paperwork and bills they would face. Because of this, Tammy wished that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital where parents never pay a penny to receive top-notch care. Please go to http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=3911746&pg=personal&fr_id=39300 to pledge in her name. Tammy is survived by her sons, Wesley and Raymond Shields, her sisters, Susan Tillery and Gabby Curtis McDonald, her brother, Arbye Curtis, her dad, Arbye Lee Curtis III and stepmom, Liz Curtis, her mother, Kay Sherrill Shiderly and stepdad, Dan Shiderly, her grandchildren, Jaxson, Joel and Jesse Shields, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and aunts, her husband, Bert Silverstein and her three dogs, Mylie, Lulu and Alvin. Services will be held for Tammy at the Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens, 3001 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052, at 2pm, Tuesday, April 5, where her remains will be inurned in a columbarium overlooking a pond and gazebo. The Gardens sit on what once was a field that Tammy and her friends would walk across in their high school years. How fitting. After the service, Tammy will have one more party. Those who wish to participate in a "Celebration of Life" may join us at Joe Pool Lake's Lynn Creek Park, Pavilion 2. Vehicle entry is free to Grand Prairie residents, but $10 for all others. Please join us for her last goodbye.