Thomas (Tom) Ewen Price, aged 65, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on June 30, 2022. He was a resident of Chehalis, WA, formerly residing in the Hood River Valley, OR, with his early years spent in LaGrande, OR. His youth was also spent in the Oregon towns of Portland, Medford, Pendleton, Moro, and Ontario.
He was predeceased by his father Lawrence Doyn Price and his son Michael Ewen Price. He left behind his wife, Lynn Puki Rue-Price, mother Patty Price-Hukari, granddaughter Katilyn Timblin, daughter and son in law Chelsey and Barry Gover, brother and sister in law L. Craig Price and Louise Apichell-Price, brother and sister in law Doug and Sharron Price, his nephew Mathew Price, and his great-niece Alexas Price.
As anyone who knew Tom will likely tell you, he was a jovial, easy going man with a contagious smile and laugh, always ready with a joke or to lend a helpful hand to any person or cause in need. Tom never knew a stranger, would befriend anyone with whom he crossed paths, and provided common sense leadership and service in various volunteer and community organizations with which he worked over the years.
Tom was known for always being on the go, and made time for as many hobbies as one man could squeeze in - including golf, running, boxing, fishing, hunting, sport shooting, enjoying wildlife and the great outdoors, mechanics, handiwork, woodworking, and home repair, avid reading, writing, poetry, painting, photography, collecting and listening to records, collecting, cooking, baking, gardening, hosting gatherings and parties, fierce competition in games of every variety, and U.S. and international travel - having visited 4 continents, around 10+ countries, and at least as many U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Tom was equally well known for his boundless work ethic - both professionally and personally. He drove trucks and other heavy equipment his entire career, starting out driving log trucks in eastern Oregon before working on the Bonneville Dam project in the early 1980s. He began working for Carson Oil Company in Hood River in the late 1980s, and made a courageous career move and went to work for KBR in Iraq at Al Asad and Al Taqaddum bases during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Later, Tom briefly returned home to Oregon, quickly finding his next professional adventure on the North Slope of Alaska, working in Prudhoe Bay for various outfits, including Worley. Tom’s mechanical and technical abilities and safety conscientiousness helped fuel his professional success - he could run nearly any piece of equipment or truck he encountered in his career - from the tundra of Alaska, the deserts of Iraq, the orchards of Hood River, or the narrow, dangerous roads of Bonneville Dam and logging roads in rural Oregon.
Tom’s memorial is being held from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Mt. Hood Town Hall on Hwy 35 in Mt. Hood, Oregon on Saturday, August 6th, 2022. All are welcomed - please join us in honoring and celebrating the 65 truly wonderful years Tom shared with us all. Come when you can, leave when you like.
His family will spread his ashes in a private ceremony on Surveyor's Ridge in Hood River, Oregon alongside his son, Mike Price.
If you knew Tom, please take a moment to add a memory or story to this website to create a lasting memorial for us to all enjoy for years to come.
In lieu of flowers, the family hopes you’ll consider donating to the Tom Price Memorial & Scholarship Fund to support causes in civics, for veterans, and education in the trades. Please go to the Giving tab if you wish to contribute, or visit the GoFundMe we've set up for the fund: https://gofund.me/6e6c1bbb.
Keep on truckin’!
https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/obituaries/obituary-thomas-price/article_b72d7b64-06be-11ed-b193-233ba3a32472.html
https://www.lagrandeobserver.com/obituaries/obituary-thomas-ewen-price-1957-2022/pdf_f9d36f26-0896-11ed-aa96-7b4900cf97ce.html