The family of Tamara “Tammy” McCoy is deeply saddened to announce her passing on Sept. 8, 2026. She was born on May 30, 1961, in Livermore, Calif. Tammy was full of creative energy and passionate about bringing people together. She wanted everyone to feel seen and special, and she tried to find the beauty in every day. Tammy devoted herself to her family and to the entire Burlington community. With the Art Center of Burlington and then the Capitol Theater, Tammy and her amazing team helped bring more people to downtown Burlington and Jefferson Street. Expansion of the Art Center space and programming, along with the opening of the Gallery Lounge, helped expose more people to the visual and performing arts. Tammy and team opened the Night Cap listening lounge, which breathed new life into this historic landmark, and worked to honor the Capitol by being selected as an Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame venue. In addition, they worked to get a satellite regional museum site in Burlington for the same organization. Tammy also started a formal collaboration with the Southeast Iowa Community College Music Department and the Capitol Theater, and helped bring Civic Music and Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra to the Capitol Theater.
Tammy was also a certified Enneagram instructor, hosted and led a women’s study group for interdenominational faith, taught Meet the Masters to 5th graders at Sunnyside Elementary School for several years, volunteered at Hetta Gilbert, and, with another Burlington leader, started 100 Like Minds as a fundraiser for the Community Foundation. Tammy was a member of the KB Chapter of the PEO Sisterhood. She was on multiple boards, including the Bart Howard Foundation Board, the Community Foundation of Des Moines County Board, and the Great River Health System Foundation Board.
Tammy was given the Mayor's Volunteer Recognition Award in 2019, was an Emmy Award winner from the Greater Burlington Partnership in 2021, was named the Girl Scout Woman of Distinction in 2021, was given a proclamation accommodation letter from the Iowa Arts Council in 2022, and worked on the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board for the Iowa Arts Council and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. In 2022, she was given a proclamation from the City of Burlington for her work lifting the Art Center to prominence in downtown and promoting Burlington.
Beneath all of her accomplishments, Tammy was truly driven by her heart. Her deep love for people and for the arts fueled her drive and ambition. She strongly believed in the power of creativity and art as a source of personal expression, exploration, and healing; she worked tirelessly to bring people together and to inspire them to know themselves, love others, and do great things. She was an optimist who loved a challenge and never gave up when things got difficult. She was a lifelong learner who was open to new ideas and ways of doing things. She was an artist in her own right who took art classes, learned new mediums, fell in love with pastels, and even had some of her pieces commissioned. She loved hummingbirds, reading, cooking, traveling, making the every day feel special and the special feel extravagant. With her whole heart, Tammy loved her family, her friends, and she loved her life.
Tammy is lovingly remembered by her husband, Mike; children Lacey, Matt (Lindsay), Dale, Lindsey (Frank), Katie, and Kim; 15 grandchildren; mother Jenny Lederer; father Frank Watson (Kay), and brother Bob Watson (Robin). She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life will be held at the Capitol Theater and Art Center on Sunday, Oct. 11.