Thomas James Frase

1940 - 2021

Thomas James Frase
July 19, 1940 - July 30, 2021
Burbank , Washington - Thomas James Frase, 81, resident of Burbank, WA., passed away in Pasco, WA Friday afternoon, July 30, 2021, from COPD complications.
Tom was born July 19, 1940, in Tonasket, WA to Jack and Mildred Frase and graduated from Reardon High School in 1958. He met Judy Hemmer in January 1961 in Spokane, WA and they were married August 5, 1961, in LaCrosse, WA. In 1963 Tom started working for McGregor Land & Livestock Company
in Hooper, WA as a jack of all trades and later helped move the feedlot to the Tri-Cities. Tom and Judy moved to Burbank, WA, in 1965. In 1997 Tom went to work on the Hanford site as a mechanic until his retirement.
In 1986 Tom suffered a traumatic head injury while being a pickup man at a the Wiley City rodeo. From his daughters – "you had to know dad before and after the injury to understand the strength, determination and will it took to recover from the injury. From a strong, independent, kick your butt kind of guy to having to learn how to walk, talk and be dependent on other people in the blink of an eye, but he did it. He learned how to drive again, work on machinery and even trained a horse after the injury. He showed us that you can fight thru any obstacle and succeed. "
Tom enjoyed raising cows on the family farm in Burbank, watching kids & grandkids in their various activities, moose hunting, tinkering in his shop and cracking walnuts from his daughter's walnut tree. Tom and Judy also enjoyed spending time at the casino.
Tom was a member of the Two Rivers Riding Club in Burbank and helped build it at its current location. He also was active in the Washington State High School Rodeo Association while his daughters were in rodeo from 1979-1986 and was a long-time member of the Burbank Water Board.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Judy at their home in Burbank; 3 daughters, Sharon Baasch (Mark), Karen Forsythe, Susan Turner (Ron) all in Burbank; 5 grandchildren, Jordan, Sarah and Thomas Forsythe, Taylor and Trinton Turner; sister Thelma Addington, sister-in law Ann Frase, brother-in-law Lee Hemmer (Karen), and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, 2 brothers John Curtis Frase and Jack Bert Frase, sister Lu Brown, in-laws George and Beulah Hemmer, 2 nephews Gordon Addington and Johnny Frase and niece Cathy Holzer.
Due to COVID, a family graveside service will be held at the Colfax Cemetery in Colfax, WA.
Online condolences may be left at www.bruningfuneralhome.com. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.