Tiana Yocam

TIANA YOCAM, 27, of Keystone, NE, passed away Monday, September 2, 2019 at Paxton, NE.

Tiana Machelle Yocam entered this world as a loving, compassionate, fun ball of energy with a "Can Do Attitude!" She was born to Mark & Terri Yocam and has an older sister, Tasha. She spent the early years of her life trying to do everything her big sis did! She attended Elbert School from Preschool to 8th Grade and participated in numerous activities including volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, band, and 4-H. At the age of 7 she started rodeoing in the Little Britches Youth Association at Kiowa. This was the start of her lifelong passion, barrel racing. For Christmas she and her sister got a little black filly they named Midnight, and the dream took flight. The horses, Bubba and Rascal, were added to the team and she became a cowgirl to the core.

She attended Kiowa High School, and the next 4 years were spent playing volleyball, basketball, track and competing in National Little Britches. One of her best memories from high school sports was making it to the State Basketball Tournament her Senior year with her famous Lady Indian teammates. In 2008 and 2009 Tiana and Midnight became the Little Britches Barrel Racing World Champions, a real dream come true for her! She won countless buckles, saddles, and prizes, but her greatest memories were of the countless friends she made along the way which turned into family, her Rodeo Family.

Tiana earned her AA degree while on a rodeo scholarship at Lamar Community College. During this time her Rodeo Family continued to grow with new friendships, and this is when she met and fell in love with her boyfriend, Colby Apolius. She moved to Keystone, Nebraska in the Spring of 2012 to be with Colby, and quickly adapted a fulfilling life in a new state. She worked at the Ogallala Animal Clinic and appreciated her days there with her great boss and mentor, Dr. Ron Moorhead. She began working at Arthur School to care for Bria, a sweet young girl with Rett Syndrome. Tiana developed a deep and unique bond with Bria, and became an advocate, raising awareness for Rett Syndrome. At the age of 23 she held a very successful benefit rodeo for Rett Syndrome in Arthur, Nebraska. The last few years she created countless fun memories with her new found Nebraska friends and family.

Tiana loved her activities, friends and animals, but everyone will agree that nothing was more important to her than her family. She was an amazing daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and an even more amazing Aunt Nani to her older sister's children, Qiedyn & Qaydence Gray. She loved to share her passion of horses and barrel racing with Q & Qaydi, and always made sure to be intentional with her time with them.

"T" would want us all to learn from her short life here to chase your dreams without fear, be full of compassion, love your family and friends fiercely, and to HAVE A DANG GOOD TIME!!

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Tiana's memory with the intent to support the Rett Syndrome Foundation as well as a scholarship to be created in her name. Donations can be mailed to the Tiana Yocam Memorial Fund, PO Box 274 Elbert, Co 80106. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.

A memorial service will be held in Nebraska on Sunday, September 15, 2019, at 2:00 pm at the Arthur County School Gymnasium at Arthur, NE with Pastor Ben Keene officiating.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.