Thomas L. Brice

Thomas Brice Obituary

Thomas L. Brice of Kent, Washington, and Fairbanks, passed away surrounded by family on Aug. 30. He was a folk artist, husband, brother, father and friend. Thom was a keen poker player and avid golfer. The weeks before he passed were spent doing the things he loved. He collected over $140 from his brother Al and other family members who got "skint" on the final pot that Sunday. He helped his other brother, Andy, plan a family golf outing to celebrate an upcoming wedding. Also, he enjoyed hours of visiting family, playing games and seeing old friends.
He was a man who fed 20 people at his table, gave shelter to those who had no home and a job for those who wanted to work. He raised three children: Andrea, Stephen and Tom Brice, and twice drove them across the country, beginning with the unpaved Alaska Highway. He is survived by his beloved wife, Berta Joan, and four other children: Monica, Stephen, Emily and Dan McGlothlin, who joined the Brice tribe and found themselves pressed into service making leather rifle holsters, silk curtains or copper cat-tails. Thom loved spending time in his shop bringing to life scenes from the Wild West, making furniture and building planters for friends and family.
After serving in the Marine Corps, Thom worked with his family to start Brice Inc. and eventually formed his own business, Brice Land Clearing. In between, he maintained the facilities and taught wrestling at St. Andrews in Sewanee, Tennessee; he refurbished and sold Army mules and cleared power lines for Georgia Power in Clarkesville, Georgia; and worked on numerous construction projects throughout Alaska. He was a 36-year member of the IUOE 302, Operating Engineers Union.
His ashes were spread at a private service at Brice In the Hills, where he rests with his parents and brother and sister. Aside from his wife and children and mentioned brothers, he is survived by dozens and dozens of grandkids, greatgrandkids, nieces, and nephews, each of whom were special to him. The family asks that donations be sent to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church Women's Homeless Outreach Mobilization Effort (HOME) in Kent, Washington.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily News-Miner on Sep. 8, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Brice

5 Entries

Anita Corby

September 21, 2019

I met Tom only 7 years ago when I took up the game of golf. Being the loner that I am, it surprised me, when a "little man with a straw hat" started to engage me in conversation about the difficulty of the game, while I flailed away with my sticks. He gave a chipper putter to me and said, "If you like it, we will settle up later". That was the beginning of a friendship that rarely comes your way in life. Tom Brice was short in stature, but to me , a man with one of the biggest hearts. His capacity to laugh, his everlasting positive outlook on life , his kindness to his fellow human and his genuine deep love and admiration for his wife Joan was something I have never witnessed in any man I have ever met.
Tom will live on in the minds and hearts of all of us, that got to walk a little way with him on the road of life.
I am ever so grateful that I had a chance to thank him for his friendship.

Monica McGlothlin

September 14, 2019

You were a unique, kind, caring stepfather and we will miss you dearly!! Love you, Monica, Emily, Dan and Steve

Hannah Smith

September 11, 2019

We will miss you forever uncle Thom......

R. Eric Smith

September 9, 2019

Like many who knew the Brices, I benefited from being friends with Tom. He was as tough and grizzled as the motherbears he frequently invoked. He told epic stories, had a great sense of humor, could inspire you to move mountains, and never held back to lend somebody a helping hand and make them feel like valuable souls.

The Brices lived a minute away from me in Georgia, and I was buddies with Steve, who beat me in just about every game possible. One time, Tom had just finished hanging an expensive chandelier in their dining room, and Steve and I played Gnip Gnop on the dining room table. I finally beat Steve and I was so overjoyed I jumped up and crashed right into the chandelier. Tom was angry as a swarm of hornets, but eventually forgave me, but was to sure to remind me of what I did whenever I came back. He'd say in his gravelly voice "Now Eric, I just finished putting this motherbearing chandelier back together, so don't go crashing into it!"

Rest in peace Tom. You were a great person and a great friend.

Lisa Stewart-Doser

September 8, 2019

I was very blessed to have known Tom and be a part of his family. He taught me that love comes in many forms, and sometimes life gets messy, but you keep going forward. He convinced me that I could always do more, be more, and that I was capable, smart, and sassy (a GOOD thing, he said!) He helped me grow up, when I thought I was already grown. The stories of his life and family always made me laugh. He was very fatherly to me and gave me great advice on many things. His wisdom was deep, his charity was eternal. He comforted me during a very dark time of my life, and for all that, and so much more, I will always be grateful. I hadn't seen Tom in many years, but we shared many letters (the old fashioned hand written kind) and telephone conversations. I have missed him so much the past 30 years, and now I will miss him even more. My life is richer and bolder for having known him. The world is less bright without him in it. May he rest in peace, and may his family be comforted in their memories of such a wonderful man.

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