Tanya Evelyn (Isham) (Petersen) Ouassil-Nasan-Khater, age 55, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on October 8, 2022. She was born October 31, 1966 in Santa Monica, California to Willard Harte and Evelyn Merryweather Isham.
Tanya was raised in her early life in Downey, California. At the age of 6 she along with her family relocated to beautiful Cedar City, Utah where she had many cousins and family relations in the area including the Lunts, Turnbaughs, Strattons, and many more. She quickly fit in with her quick wit and sarcastic humor that continued with her for her entire life. She was always the life of the party. Anywhere there was laughter you were sure to find Tanya near.
Tanya graduated from Cedar City high school in 1984, the youngest of her class. She was invited to be a nanny, so she moved to New York City shortly after a semester at SUSC (now SUU) where she met Abdellah Ouassil, an executive chef from Morocco. They married and had 2 children, Joseph and Charles (Joe and Charlie). They moved to Los Angeles to be closer to her family. They divorced some time after that but remained friends.
Tanya managed an apartment complex in Hollywood where she decided she needed self defense training if she was going to be alone raising 2 boys. She went to a karate studio nearby where she met the sensei, Michael (Sanford) Nasan. Mike was quickly taken by Tanya's charm and quick wit and soon asked her to marry him. They married and a year later they were sealed in the St. George LDS temple. Mike had 2 children from a previous marriage, Lorraine and Anthony, whom Tanya loved as if her own. Tanya wanted to live closer to family so they moved to Cedar City, Utah where Mike opened a Karate studio. They had a son together, Maxwell. A few years later they moved back to California. They lived in Lancaster, California, happily for a short time when Mike suddenly passed away leaving Tanya alone again to raise 3 boys by herself.
A few years later Tanya met Yasser Khater, a chemist from Egypt, and they fell in love and married in Egypt. They lived in Lancaster, California where Tanya and Yasser had a son, Noah. Later they moved to Clovis, California where they have lived happily, raising their family and enjoying their children and grandchildren. Tanya has 6 grandchildren, 2 of which were born shortly after she passed away.
Tanya is preceded in death by her father, Willard Harte Isham, her 1st husband Abdellah Ouassil, her 2nd husband Michael Nasan, and her younger brother Lloyd Petersen. She is survived by her husband, Yasser Khater, her children Lorraine Sanford, Anthony & Marissa Sanford, Joseph & Deanna Ouassil, Charles & Briana Ouassil, Maxwell Nasan, and Noah Khater. Her grandchildren, Kiara, Kameron, Noah Bannon, Maddie, Jaxon and Cove. Her mother, Evelyn Isham, her siblings Todd & Karen Isham, Ty & Pamela Isham, Brandon Petersen, Shayla & Todd Gardiner and many Aunts, Uncles, Nephews, Nieces and amazing friends she considered family.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 29, 2022. A viewing will be held at Cedar City's Rock Church, 75 E. Center St. and will begin at 10am for 1 hour then graveside services will follow at 11:30am at the Cedar City Cemetery, north lawn area where she will be interred.
A family and close friends luncheon will follow and will be held at the Cedar View ward, 1925 W. 320 S. Cedar City.