Obituary of Tommy J Dye

Tommy J. Dye, 86, of Othello, passed away peacefully at home on April 19th after battling a long illness. Tommy was born on October 28, 1937 to George Washington Dye and Marinda Athalina Roberts in Busch, Arkansas. Tommy enlisted in the United States Navy in 1956. During the holidays in 1962, Tommy met Martha Bean in Phoenix, Arizona. They were married in Las Vegas in August of 1963. Tommy and Martha went on to have four daughters, Gina Egger, Shirley Hoksbergen (Mike), Cathy Lengenfelder (Todd) and Debbie Daley (Mike). Tommy went on to achieve many things in the military. He became a Navy Instructor, a Career Counselor, he pushed boots, taught fire fighting, directed the Drum & Bugle Corp. and earn numerous service medals and ribbons.He retired from the United States Navy in 1976 as an E7 Chief Petty Officer, after turning down a promotion to spend more time with his family. After serving 20 years in the Navy, he moved his family from San Diego, California to Othello, Washington. Tommy started working with Napa Auto Parts where he worked until going into business with his brother WT Dye and good friend Wayne Slinker at D&W Auto Repair where he remained until his retirement. Tommy truly did not know how to retire. He could build anything, fix anything and do anything, and he did! Tommy and Martha spent much of their retired years at their cabin. First building it from the ground and up filling it with Tommy’s log furniture, and then enjoying it with their family and friends. It was the place to be for family get-togethers, but especially during deer hunting season when Tommy would put on his Hunting Camp Cooking School for all of the hunters in the family. Tommy was predeceased by his parents and his 8 siblings, Elmer, Richard, Ess, Bill. Mable, Marge, Nora and W.T. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Martha Dye, his daughters, Gina Egger, Shirley Hoksbergen, Cathy Legenfelder and Debbie Daley and his grandchildren, Brandon Hoksbergen (Danielle), Ryan Salinas, Patrick Egger (Britney), TJ Salinas (Jessica), Nikolas Egger ( Britney), Austin Ashton, Marinda Stock (Grant), Eric Ashton, Reagan Lengenfelder, Kennedy Lengenfelder, Jocelyn Ashton, Avery Ashton, Madelyn Daley, Lillian Daley, Jonah Daley, Evelyn Daley and his 13 great grandchildren.