Tamilita "Tami" Tyler Schayot

Tamilita “Tami” Tyler Schayot, age 59, of Metairie, LA, passed away during the early morning hours on Friday, October 7, 2022, in her home with her children.

Tami was born on September 1^st, 1963, in Atlanta, GA. Her parents, Tomie and Shirley, moved the family to Louisiana soon after she was born. The Tyler family grew up the majority of their lives around Houma, LA, specifically Bayou Dularge, where they would open their home to extended family and the neighborhood for Sunday get-togethers to play music, swim, and enjoy each other’s company. Tami was a tumbler on the cheerleading squad at Vandebilt Catholic High School and at Terrebonne High School, from which she graduated in 1981. She later received her beautician certification from John Jay Beauty College in 1987, and attended Nichols State University in Thibodeaux, LA.

Tami met her husband of 25 years, Chris, in 1985 while she was working at Luther’s BBQ Restaurant. They were married in 1989 and started a family, with their firstborn arriving in 1990. Tami spent much of her adult life as a homemaker and loving mother of her three children. She became a grandmother in 2020 to her only grandson, Bacchus, whom she loved dearly as his “Ma T” or “Sweet T”. She was an incredible, caring, supportive mother who was always full of energy, vibrancy, and life.

Tami was a performer and loved the arts. She was an amazing dancer, gymnast, actor, and loved to sing. For a short time, she lived in New York with her sister, Ramona, where she attended dance classes and studied at the Uta Hagen Acting Studio. Tami had an undeniable passion for dance and favored the styles of tap and jazz. She performed for the World’s Fair in 1984 with Celebration and participated in and won many talent shows as a soloist throughout her life. In addition, she earned many awards with her dance team. Aside from performance art, Tami was also a talented visual artist who would, on occasion, create beautiful sketches and paintings. Another extension of her artistic abilities included making crafts such as Mardi Gras brooches, wreaths, jewelry, and decorative pieces.

As a mom, Tami always found ways to share her love of music, art, good food, and many other joyous things with her children. She was an amazing cook, especially when it came to her signature dishes such as mac’ n cheese, Crawfish Monica, seafood gumbo, crab dip, shrimp dip, and Maw Maw’s pralines & brownies. Tami loved her sweets, just like her mama, especially when it came to ice cream. Music was always a prominent part of everyday life for her family. Some of her favorite songs were Tiny Dancer, by Elton John, Proud Mary, by Tina Turner, Dance This Mess Around, by the B 52’s, and she loved to sing Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen anytime the opportunity presented itself. Tami loved attending live concerts and shows, which she did more frequently in her teens and twenties.

Throughout the years, some of her favorite family activities included attending Mardi Gras parades, fishing on the water, boating in the lake, swimming in the pool, and gardening in her flower bed. Pink roses were her favorite. In addition, Tami had a love for cats and helped raise many throughout her life. Her love for dance remained prominent throughout motherhood and continued to inspire her children, especially her daughter. Her most recent performance was the mother-daughter tap duo for her daughter’s wedding in 2018 to a You Are My Sunshine mix, in honor of the family’s 3-generation female dance legacy.

The beach was Tami’s happy place. She loved the sand, open air, and water. Biloxi, MS was the family’s regular vacation spot for many years. There are so many great memories and fun times that the family shared together here that they felt it fitting to grant this location as her eternal resting place. Tami’s spirit and kind, lively nature will live on forever and the beautiful mark she left on this world will be cherished by all who knew her. We trust that she was reunited with her mama upon her arrival to heaven so they can endlessly dance together and put on the best show heaven has ever seen!

Tami was preceded in death by her parents, Tomie Gene Tyler and Shirley Dupuis Tyler and her brother, Tony Tyler.

Survivors include her three children, Crystal Schayot Rutherford, Craig Schayot, and Cheston Schayot; one grandchild, Bacchus Blair Reid Rutherford; the love of her life and father of her children, Chris Schayot; and son-in-law Brent Rutherford. Sibling survivors include, Terry Tyler, Timmy Tyler, Ramona Duffy, and Tina Smith; along with her brothers-in-law, Frank Duffy and Tommy Smith; Nephews and nieces include, Bradford Schayot, Blake Schayot, Brett Schayot, Robby Bellaci, Ross Bellaci, Stu Schayot, Erin Schayot, Lauren Gambel, Lindsey Hernandez, Chad Roberts, Travis Tyler, Tyler Beaux Smith, and Juliana Smith.

Visitation for friends and family will be held at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15^th Street, Gulfport, MS on Friday, October 14^th, 2022 from 11am-12pm. A private burial for immediate family will follow the visitation at Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi, MS. Her celebration of life will follow at 4pm for all friends and family at her residence in Metairie, LA. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the Schayot family.

Thank you for visiting and keeping Tami and her family in your thoughts in prayers.