Thomas Nathan Shorey, 31, of Valdez, Alaska, passed away in an accident while working on Friday, January 12, 2024.

Tom grew up in Humboldt County, among the fog and the redwoods. He spent his happy childhood with his sister, Chelsea, and treasured cousins Matt, Russ, and Andy, racing through the woods, camping, hiking, and fishing. Tom loved the natural beauty of the world and found immense joy in being outside. As a child, he spent many happy hours tromping through Rohner Park with his sister. He loved gardening, helping his mother plan the vegetable garden each year. He convinced her to plant blueberry bushes along the outside of their fence so that people walking by could stop and enjoy fresh berries.

Tom had as much love for animals as he did for the outdoors. When he was 14, he snuck into the animal scramble at the Fortuna Rodeo, and much to the shock of his family and dismay of his mother, came running home with a baby goat in his arms. This was the first of many goats the family would adopt, and one night years later, Tom would be the one to successfully deliver two goat kids while his father was out of town. While working in Washington as a timber cruiser, he found two black lab puppies abandoned in the woods, brought them home, and named them Max and Ralph. Ralph became one of Tom’s closest companions, accompanying him on backpacking trips, bike rides, and walks on the beach, always with a tennis ball hanging from his mouth.

In high school, Tom found a group of friends, the Crew, that became his family, whom he was close with until his passing. They went fishing, swimming, hung out in the forest, and took part in all sorts of hijinks. On one occasion, they commandeered his family’s inflatable kayak and floated it down the Eel River, worrying his parents but eventually turning up exhilarated and triumphant (and late to his senior prom). He was a gifted musician, playing both piano and trumpet and singing in the high school choir, and could teach himself to play any instrument he picked up within a few short hours. He had a deep curiosity about the world, and found his passion in environmental and earth sciences.

Tom moved to Valdez, Alaska, where he grew a beautiful family with his partner, Abbiegail Murphy. Abbiegail was a wise and grounding force in Tom’s life, and together they had two boys, Joseph, age 4, and Shaun, age 2. Tommy always had an open and generous heart, but his love grew exponentially when he became a father. Raising his two boys was his greatest joy and accomplishment in life. He remained close with his family despite the distance, calling them at least once a week to brag about how deep the snow was, the pleasure he found in chopping wood and foraging for wild blueberries, and to share the wonders of fatherhood.

Tom’s passing was preceded by his loving grandparents, Vickie and Gene Coda and Patrick Dempsey, his beloved Auntie Caron, and his loyal dog Ralph.

He is survived by his partner Abbiegail, sons Shaun and Joseph, parents, Liz and Russell, sister Chelsea, uncles Chuck, Tom, and Hal, aunts Jackie, Diane, and Anita, and cousins Matt, Emma, Russ, Andy, Julie, Jesse, Melissa, Riley, and Gradey, as well as many dear friends and loved ones.

Tommy was gentle, loving, fearless, and fiercely independent. He had an irreverent, relentless sense of humor that occasionally drove one to the brink of insanity. He was a beam of light for all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 18 at 1 pm at the Fortuna Monday Club, 610 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540. His ashes will be spread in his beloved Humboldt County at a later date.

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