Obituary

Tara Lynn Grandlich was born on April 26, 1979, in Grants, New Mexico, and passed away peacefully in her home in Apache Junction, Arizona, on May 2, 2026. She spent the early years of her life in Phoenix, Arizona before moving back to New Mexico. First Albuquerque and then to Farmington where she attended thru her sophomore year of high school. Tara finished her high school years in Redlands, California, graduating in 1997.

Following graduation, Tara pursued classes at UVSC in Orem, Utah and SUU in Cedar City, Utah where she got her Associate degree. Driven by curiosity and a desire for something more, That spirit of adventure led her to Monticello, Utah, where she served as a counselor at Wilderness Quest — a role that suited her deeply. From there, she channeled that same energy into becoming a first responder, serving as an EMT and joining Ski Patrol at Brian Head Resort in Utah and Eldora Mountain in Colorado. After three years on the mountain, she pursued esthetician school, earning certifications in laser tattoo removal and hair removal. Throughout it all, she gave her time and heart as a caregiver to the elderly, touching lives in Utah, New York City, and Arizona

On January 24, 2005, Tara welcomed her first child, Railand, born in Mesa, Arizona. During this chapter of her life with Jamey Carpenter, motherhood became her greatest joy. Her second child, Tymber, followed on September 27, 2007, born in Vancouver, Canada. They made their way back to the states in 2008, and from that point forward, her children became the true center of her world.

Over the years that followed, Tara discovered a deep love for fitness that began with Olympic lifting and grew into something far greater than a hobby. It became a calling. As a certified CrossFit trainer, personal trainer, dietitian and Yoga instructor she built a career rooted entirely in helping others, working with clients from all over the world, But no professional achievement ever outshined the joy she found in being a mother. She and her kids spent countless days on trails, at sporting events, in the gym, and everywhere the outdoors had to offer — all the places Tara loved most.

In 2016, while instructing at a CrossFit gym, Tara met Hunter Grandlich. They began dating shortly after, and on February 02, 2020 they married. The 10 years they shared were built on the kind of life most people only dream about — building businesses side by side, traveling all around the country, going on countless adventures, hunting and fishing trips, and squeezing in as many Boulder Mountain getaways as they could. With Railand and Tymber alongside them, they made every moment count.

Tara had a gift for capturing moments. Wherever she went and whoever she was with, photos and selfies were simply a given — a joyful, nonnegotiable part of being in her presence. She also had a remarkable mind: a memory like an elephant, sharp enough to recall any date, any detail, as if everything were filed away neatly and waiting to be retrieved. Music was another one of Tara’s many gifts. She had a beautiful singing voice, could play the piano, and taught herself to play the guitar — a reflection of both her talent and determination. She loved animals, gardening and her house plants all with equal devotion. Early mornings you might find her tending to her 70-plus chickens, playing with her two dogs — Red and Orvis — or working in the garden. She had a long-running goal to convince Hunter that the household needed either a pet raccoon or a wire-haired dachshund, Let’s just say this was up for debate.

Tara was loved by many — across many miles, many walks of life, and many corners of the world. To her, it didn’t matter who you were or where you came from. She wanted to know your story, and once she did, she wanted to know how she could help. That was simply who she was.

She is survived by her husband, Hunter; her children, Railand and Tymber; her mother and father, RJ and Tricia; and her brothers and sister Brad, Ron and Carol. Tara will be deeply missed — but she lived fully, loved fiercely, and in her short time here, accomplished more than most ever will in a full lifetime.