Tamara "Tam" Lesley

Tamara "Tam" Lea Lesley, age 77 of Medway, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at home. She was born April 24, 1949 in Chillicothe, Ohio.

She is preceded in death by her father, Homer Boggs; mother, Rosemary Skaggs; son, Darrell Clinard; and many other dear loved ones.

Tam is survived by her beloved husband of 41 years, Richard Lesley; children, Stacy Hall, Rachel (Erick) Leonard, and Rachel (Lee) Handwerker; grandchildren, Anthony, Aaron, Dustin, Sara, Lexi, and Noah; and siblings, Faith Lilly, Vickie Richter, Beth (Rodney) Shade, Steve Harrison. She is also survived by numerous family and friends.

She led an extraordinary and adventurous life filled with creativity, compassion, and a deep love for both people and animals. She worked as a camera operator for WHIO Channel 7 News and also appeared as an actress on the beloved local children's television program Kitten Little's Clubhouse 22. An accomplished author, she published four books, most notably A Chosen Journey, and received numerous awards and recognition for her poetry.

Alongside her husband, she dedicated countless hours volunteering at children's hospitals, where they and their companion dogs provided comfort and reassurance to children preparing for surgery. Together they also owned and operated a pet store and shared a passion for animal breeding and care, raising a diverse variety of animals including horses, ostriches, Prionailurus bengalensis (Bengal cats), and many others.

Tam and her husband were actively involved with the Huber Heights MetroPark petting zoo and participated in numerous community parades, festivals, and special events, delighting children and families alike with her animals. Her love of nature was evident in her passion for horseback riding, gardening, and cultivating beautiful flowers.

Above all, her greatest joys were spending time with her children and grandchildren and traveling with her beloved husband in their motorhome. Whether attending book signings, exploring new destinations, or enjoying family vacations, she embraced every opportunity to create lasting memories with those she loved. Her legacy of kindness, creativity, service, and adventure will be cherished by all who knew her.

Services are pending at this time, please check back soon (Newcomer - North Chapel (4104 Needmore Road, Dayton, Ohio 45424).

To share a memory of Tam or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.