Tom Brice

Tommie Leroy Brice, of Yakima, passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2022 at Cottage in the Meadow Hospice in Yakima, WA. He was preceded in death by his wife Charlotte (Cowin) Brice and step-son Don Epperson. He is survived by his loving wife Cheryl (Epperson) Brice; his three daughters Rhonda (Dave) Peterson, Brenda (Ray) White, and Alicia (Travis) Wetherbee; and his 10 grandchildren Amber Gomez, Autumn (Mark) Tomandl, Andrew Peterson, Abigail Peterson, Jessica (Sarah) Thibault, Laila Wetherbee, Deacon Wetherbee, Amber Cuevas, Megan Epperson, and Jesse Epperson and many great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held on June 25th, 2022 at the Fall City Fire Hall.

 

“Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway!” - John Wayne

 

Tom Brice led a life of service. He was born on November 23rd, 1940 in Gordon, Nebraska to Ramola Belle Sawtell and Gerald Brice. He joined the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. He married Charlotte Cowin on May 4th, 1962 and they settled in her hometown of Fall City, Washington. They had 2 daughters, Rhonda and Brenda, before he became a volunteer firefighter in 1967. When asked why he had always wanted to be a firefighter, he was quoted as “I just wanted to help people.” In 1972, he trained as 1 of 4 Fall City volunteer firemen with Medic One to become an EMT. He then advocated for the fire station to get their first aid car. His wife Charlotte also trained in 1974 to become one of the first two female EMT’s in Fall City. They were blessed with a third daughter, Alicia, in 1979. He served as a water commissioner, fire commissioner, and chairman of the board. He was a community leader and role model to many. In March of 2003, Tommie lost his beloved wife Charlotte. Shortly thereafter, he retired and moved to Ellensburg, Washington. He regularly attended the rodeo and enjoyed many visits with his grandchildren. He found love again and moved from Ellensburg to Yakima, where he married Cheryl Epperson on February  11th, 2006. He enjoyed watching movies, laughing with his wife everyday, visiting with family, and telling some really great stories. He also enjoyed swimming at the local pool, visiting his ducks, and having breakfast with his group of men, a tradition he had upheld since his days living in Fall City. Tom was bigger than life, and he lives on in every life he touched.

“A man tells his stories so many times he becomes the stories. They live on after him. And in that way, he becomes immortal.” - Will Bloom, Big Fish

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If you have a memory of Tom, please take a moment and share it in the link below. We intend to compile all of his stories and memories of Tom into a book for his family and friends to remember him by. Thank you. 

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