Tina Marie Puffer

Some people live long lives, scattered here and there with triumphs and achievements. Others, like Tina Marie Puffer, are granted a short time on earth, but are able to fill each day of their lives with energy, life and love. She had a heart full of love for her family and friends and a spirit that inspired smiles everywhere. Tina was thoughtful, had a great sense of humor and a beautiful, contagious smile that anyone near her couldn't help but catch. The decade that gave us MTV, "New Wave" and Nintendo was the same one that also gave us Tina. This was a fast paced period in our nation's history when trends changed from minute to minute and you never knew what computers were going to do next. Amidst these exciting times, Tina made her arrival in the world on May 30, 1988, in Muskegon, Michigan. She was the youngest of two daughters born to Elgie and Margaret Puffer. Tina and her older sister Tara undoubtedly filled the house with their share of sisterly laughter, arguments and memories while growing up. Like most little girls, Tina loved playing dress up or being outside with her longtime friend, Amanda Maycroft. They also liked picking blueberries in Amanda's backyard when in season. Tina had a soft spot for animals and befriended many bunnies, cats and dogs as a youngster. At the age of ten, Tina and Tara went to live with Bud and Linda Lamb, whom she affectionately called Uncle Bud and Aunt Linda. For the past five years, they have been the girls' legal guardians and Tina happily settled into their family and growing close with her now extended family. She especially enjoyed spending time at Stephanie and Kim's house, where she learned to drive their golf cart and various other vehicles. Tina was fearless when it came to driving, and she wasn't picky about what she drove, as long as it had wheels. When she was old enough to legally drive, she got her own car - a Chevy Beretta that she named "Betty." Every once and a while, you could also see her barely peeking over the steering wheel of Uncle Bud's big old pickup - she was only 5 ft. 3 in. and weighed 95 lbs. Tina had a great sense of humor and enjoyed goofing around with her Uncle Bud. They were always pulling pranks on each other, like the time Tina was sunning herself on the dock, which she loved to do in the summer, and her Uncle Bud sneakily arranged for a jet ski to speed past the dock, spraying her with water. His laughing gave him away as the culprit of this prank to which Tina deviously replied, "paybacks." And boy did she pay him back. Later that evening while Uncle Bud was sitting out back, Tina crept up behind him and soaked him with a bucket of freezing cold water. Her Uncle Bud also fondly recalled the Christmas he told Tina that she was getting switches and her sister was getting a sack of potatoes as presents. Sure enough, come Christmas morning there was switches and potatoes under the tree. After a good laugh, the "real" presents were brought out for everyone to enjoy. Like the saying "tiny but mighty", Tina never backed down from a challenge and gave it her all every time. She definitely proved her great strength while playing "Break the Chain" with friends. In this game, a group links their arms together while others try to break through. Being petite, they thought Tina would be the easy target, but she held strong every time and she proudly displayed the bruises she got from it. Although strong in muscle, Tina had a very soft, caring heart, which she gladly shared with everyone around her. She enjoyed being around children and babysat for many of the neighborhood kids. She also worked at Volunteer Muskegon, where she mentored kids and took time to learn sign language so she could communicate better with them. In 2003, Tina went to work at Muskegon Community Education, wherein she helped teach dance and gymnastics to children. Tina took three years of dance in high school and enjoyed sharing her passion with everyone whenever possible. When it came to her leisure time, Tina enjoyed hanging out at the beach or the AMF Muskegon Bowling Lanes with friends. She also liked to go camping and would often be seen munching on Flaming Cheetos and drinking a monster drink. Although she selflessly devoted time in helping others, Tina also bore the mark of a typical teenage girl. She spent a considerable amount of time in the bathroom, fussing with her hair, makeup and teeth, and if she wasn't in there, then she was on the phone, gossiping with her friends. Tina was a senior at Reeths-Puff High School and had many friends, though her closest and best friend was Tara Hillier. They were inseparable. Those who considered Tina a friend could always count on her for a listening ear or shoulder to lean on. Although Tina didn't have a special someone in her life at the time, she was sure to have broken several hearts along the way. While Tina was always strong in her brawn and determination, she wasn't always confident in her appearance, namely her teeth. Then, in the 9th grade she got braces and it seemed liked overnight her personality changed. She became more outgoing, self-assured and her beautiful smile reflected that. It didn't take much to coax a smile from her, no matter what kind of day she was having. On March 12, 2006, Tina was involved in a terrible car accident and never awakened again from her coma. Though Tina's life was short, her memory will live on in the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched with her positive attitude, her wonderful smile and her boundless love for everyone and everything. She will be greatly missed. Tina is survived by her Guardian Parents, Linda and Bud Lamb; parents, Elgie Puffer, Margaret (Roy) Ferguson; sister, Tara Puffer; half-brother, Dewayne (Chris) Puffer, and a very large extended family, including Grandma Jean Mitchell, Gene (Michelle) Lamb, Beth McGowan, Angela Brown, Stephanie (Kim) Busman and Eric (Rose) Brown, all of Muskegon; special friends, Tim Nash, Amanda Maycroft and Tara Hillier; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Elgie Puffer, Sr., Viola Mach and Grandma and Grandpa Goodin, and 2 uncles, Charles Puffer and Willie Goodin. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory of Tina, sign the online guestbook or make a memorial contribution.