Thomas Wright "Tom" Rye

Thomas Wright Rye, known affectionately as Tom, Tommy or Tommer, passed away on June 30, 2024, at the age of 67, in Mesa, AZ. Born on August 15, 1956, in Minneapolis, MN, Tom was adopted by Glen and Waunita Rye when he was just six weeks old. The family, including his two sisters and one on the way, relocated to Arizona in 1963, where Tom would spend the majority of his life.

Tom was a man of many talents and interests. From a young age, he exhibited a gentle and always curious nature, exploring his environment. Whether it was fishing, finding turtles, or inspecting what was under every rock (or the rocks themselves). Tom saw potential in everything and sought adventure in the natural world. He was also known for his generosity, often helping those in need and never hesitating to offer the shirt off his back. He is a man known for his strength, strong hands and ability to accomplish anything that was in his path.

Professionally, Tom had a rich and varied career. After graduating from Mesa High, he worked as a carpenter and fabricator before becoming a Master Mechanic at Empire Machinery, where he dedicated ten years of service. He later joined SRP as a mechanic. He worked at different positions as a mechanic from Queen Creek school district to running other shops in the valley. During his time in Queen Creek he was a elected as council member for two years before buying his own auto repair shop in 1994, in Young, AZ. It was a huge step moving his family to a new town and becoming his own boss. He would serve the town of Young as the main mechanic and tire shop for 30 years. He would go on to work for the school system in Young as main groundskeeper, facility maintenance and bus driver. He truly enjoyed the variety of work he did in Young which allowed him to continually interact and serve his community in different ways for over three decades.

His faith in the Lord and commitment to service were evident in his participation and support of the church community as a whole. Tom was a founding member of the Pleasant Valley Community Church in Young, where he was involved in community and other church activities. One thing that was huge blessing to Tom's life was when he was 27 years old he was able to connect with his birth mother. He was very thankful for being able to have this relationship with her and his newfound family.

Tom was a man of diverse hobbies and enjoyed learning many skills, including diesel mechanics, carpentry, electrical work, stained glass, plumbing, welding, firefighting, emergency medical services, geology, arboriculture, and masonry. He loved planting new trees and cultivating his property with his rock and masonry skills. He loved animals and served as 4-H leader in his community for over 30 years. He was also known for his sense of humor, often playing the roles of comedian and prankster.

Tom's love for his family was profound. He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Jo Anne, whom he has adored since she was 15 years old (over 51 years); his children, Joshua, married to Brooke, Troy, married to Carmen, and Allisha, married to Taylor; and his four grandchildren; Anthony, Keldon, Patrick & a new addition. He is also survived by his sisters, Kathy, Barbara, and Nancy; his birth mother, Nancy Moore; stepfather, Eric Moore; and half-siblings, Andrew married to Andrea Moore and Jean married to Paul Macleod. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Waunita Rye.

Tom Rye will be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother, brother-in-law, cousin, uncle, and friend who made a significant impact on his community and the lives of those around him. His legacy of kindness, humor, and resourcefulness will continue to inspire all who knew him.

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Celebration of Life will be on October 26th 2024 at Central Christian Church Chapel building @ 11:00am
Address: 933 N Lindsay Rd Mesa, AZ 85213

We will be having a reception at a nearby location after the service.
Address to the reception will be provided at the Celebration of Life.
-- Please RSVP to the reception via email @ thomas.rye24@gmail.com --
Lunch and dessert will be provided.

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Please make any donations to the follow:
Hospice of the Valley
The Parkinson's Foundation aka Moving Day@ Parkinsons.org
https://bndfr.com/3XZ8M
Rock Steady Boxing
Local 4-H Clubs
The Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Center