Tamara Del Muldoon's Obituary
Tamara Del Muldoon (nee Grim)
9/6/1957 to 10/23/2025
Tamara Del Muldoon, kind sweet wife, loving sister, daughter, aunt, photographer, artist, writer, and encourager, passed into God’s arms on 10/23/25 from a heart rupture, at the age of 68. Her passing left a hole in many hearts.
Tamara was born in the Methow Valley in eastern Washington, the youngest of three children born to Robert Grim and Marilyn (Brownlee) Grim. Her early years were carefree, spent playing in the great outdoors near their home north of Carlton, alongside her brother Robert and sister Margaret. On hot summer days, their mother would take them to their favorite swimming hole in the Methow River north of Gold Creek, where she learned to swim.
Like most of us, Tamara encountered many challenges throughout her life. She tackled each one with planning and determined persistence, and through the years, created the life she wanted for herself.
Tamara found her career in the field of Hospitality management. She began by working at the Port of Cascade Locks, managing the river tours on the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler. To improve her skills, she put herself through college, obtaining her degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. She subsequently transitioned from river tours to ocean cruises, working as a ship’s Purser on small ships in Glacier Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Baja, California.
In 1988, Tamara went to a company Christmas party with her sister, where she met Tom Muldoon. They became an instant couple and were together from that moment on, until her death.
Tamara eventually left the cruise industry and became the Sales Manager at a large hotel in Portland, Oregon. A few years later, when the Oregon Garden first opened, she obtained a job there, managing the Pavilion for a year and using her tourism knowledge to help launch the business. Her career then transferred to Conference management, where her work allowed her to travel throughout the U.S. and across the globe, managing registrations for national and international conferences.
Tamara loved photography and writing, and used both as a means of expressing her creativity. In the final stage of her work career, she decided to become an independent travel writer and photographer. True to her nature, she did her research, took classes, and hired mentors, preparing herself for success in this field. Many of her articles were published in Northwest Travel & Life magazine from 2014 to 2024, often accompanied by photographs she took while on assignment. She also sold many of her photographs through a stock photo website that she created. For several years, she helped organize and gave presentations at the Travel & Words writer conferences.
Her work in the travel and tourism industry provided many opportunities for travel, and over the years, Tom and Tamara enjoyed vacationing in places throughout much of Europe and elsewhere. Her expertise in the field ensured that their trips were well-planned, leaving them free the enjoy them fully.
Tamara loved the outdoors. She hiked, kayaked, and camped with family and friends. When in her 20’s, she signed up for a mountaineering adventure, to circle Mt. Adams peak with a mountaineering group. It turned out that she was the only female in the group. When crossing the glaciers high up on the mountain, climbers were tethered together by rope for safety. On one of the crossings, the climber below her slipped, pulling Tamara off her feet, causing her to slide down toward the edge of the glacier. Remembering her training, she flipped over and was able to bury the ice axe to hold them in place.
Tamara loved gardening, even going so far as to study and obtain her credentials as a Master Gardener. Every year, she planted and reaped a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in her extensive garden, and she turned their yard into a relaxing oasis with flowers, trees, shrubs, a grape arbor, and a bubbling rock fountain.
Tamara was a member of Evergreen Community Church for many years. She drew inspiration from Pastor Rief’s sermons and fellowship with other members.
Tamara volunteered at the Evergreen Community Church and Oregon City Friends of the Library Bookstore. In recent years she was part of the Monday bookstore crew.
Tamara was neither right-brained or left-brained, but an amazing mix of the two. She was extremely organized and detail-minded, but also artistic and creative. She was adept at research, navigating bureaucracy and paperwork, competently acting as the general contractor for the demolition of their existing house and the building of a new one, and was often complimented for her attention to detail. She was equally artistic, expressing herself through various crafts, gardening, and through music. She loved to sing and play guitar. When time allowed, she would join others in various local musical jam groups for an afternoon of music and singing.
In a recent moment of reflection, Tamara was heard to say, “I feel truly blessed and happy with my life.” She loved all her extended family and friends and was grateful to have them in her life.
In her memory, please hug and kiss the ones you love every day. Our time in this life journey is short and we never know when it might end. Treasure every moment you have.
A Celebration of Life for Tamara will occur on Saturday December 6th at 1:30 pm at Evergreen Community Church 16940 S. Beckman Rd, Oregon City, 97045.
What’s your fondest memory of Tamara?
What’s a lesson you learned from Tamara?
Share a story where Tamara's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Tamara you’ll never forget.
How did Tamara make you smile?