We celebrate the life of Thomas Brashears, a longtime Santa Barbara resident who passed away peacefully at the age of 96, with family in attendance, on Nov. 20, 2023 at Cottage Hospital.

Tom was born on March 19, 1927 to Marcella and Gassaway Brashears in Glendale, California.

He spent his early years playing basketball at the Glendale YMCA honing his leadership skills as captain, his high school years at Hoover High, and finding ways to earn money as a gardener, at a pottery factory and an auto dealership. He credited these work experiences with preparing him for his business career.

Tom graduated from USC after he was discharged from the Navy in 1946. In 1948 Tom married Barbara Jean Rife from nearby Montrose, who he met while on spring break in Balboa, California, just before he enlisted in the Navy.

He is known to say that marrying Barbara was the “best decision of his life.”

Between 1950 and 1966, Tom and Barbara hit the road, from Burbank, to Claremont, to Redlands, and finally landing in Santa Barbara. During those 16 years, five children were born — Greg, Chris, Anne, Mike and Carol.

Most of those years, while developing his communication and sales skills involving office products, saw Tom put into action a maxim he held dear: “The harder one works, the luckier one gets.”

Once in Santa Barbara, after purchasing a small office supply firm, Tom transformed the business into what became The Office Mart, eventually employing more than 100 workers.

Tom invested much of his time to the United Way, Rotary Club, and the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, as well as to his church. He served as an elder at both First Presbyterian Church and St. Andrews Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara.

Tom was an enthusiastic reader of business and economic publications, including Barron’s, to understand new business trends and advise his family.

He was also a devout Gaucho basketball supporter, avid skier and trout fisher, interspersed with wide travel interests that Barbara and Tom enjoyed.

He also loved carrying for his nearly 130 avocado trees, and spending time with his large family. Tom cherished his five children, 20 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren, and his wife Barbara. Tom and Barbara recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

Tom was preceded in death by his mother Marcella Shephard Brashears, father Gassaway Brashears, brother George Brashears, and sister Betty Ann Turentine (Lawrence).

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Samarkand Mountain Room.