In Memoriam
Thomas Berkey
Tom was continually active in the 12-step program and helped mentor and touch many people’s lives. He enjoyed fishing, golf, and firearms.
Tom spent many years as a machinist and more recently has worked as an apartment manager.
He is survived by his loving wife Connie Berkey; siblings Celestina, Tamra, Bradley, Guy, Kevin and Joshua; 14 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; and is expecting another great-grandson.
He is predeceased by his parents Thomas and Elizabeth Berkey; daughters Paula Peck and, Gabriella Pierce.
Tom’s memorial service will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021 at Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. A live stream of the service will be available here on Tom’s obituary page at the time of the service.
Connie asks that everyone share a memory of Tom in the comment section below.
I have so many memories with Tom from fishing at the lakes , to camping at Cherryhill, to going on outof state trips like Texas and New orleans and going shopping for anything and everything. But what I will always remember is Toms love for Connie. His ear to ear smile when she would pull in from a trip she had gone on with out him he would always be outside waiting with flowers and open arms to wrap around her. His love for her had showed always . You can see he loved her so deeply and would do whatever it took to make her happy and then some.
Tom was an amzing man. He always had words of wisdom to share to anyone who needed to hear them, knowledge to teach the younger generations, and a heart full of love and compassion. He was a very special person, and could make one smile on their darker days. Some of my fondest memories was of him in his garden, letting my children help him tend it. And working with him on the apartments riding to sites with the radio up and singing along to whatever tunes were playing. We will miss our Papa Tom.
I knew Tom for a long time, there r 20+ yrs of memories. The one I want to share is this, he taught me a lot how to fix , build and repair. One day tom got a great idea to build a beautiful gazebo. From scratch we did. We put our blood , sweat, and tears into it. Especially when Tom thought he could stand on the top, where it says do not stand, well all who know him knows how that turned out for him. Funny, not funny. He broke his hand, and he literally left his blood on that. The next day he was right back up there. Of course he scared us all , but didn’t he enjoy scarring all of us?
Goodbye tom
this man stepped in and stepped up as a father figure to me, him and Connie took me in as there own!! Tom walked me down the aisle and gave me away, I will never forget this man!!
RiP Tom. Tom took me in, sobered me up, fed and loved me, many many years ago when I followed his daughter Paula home from school one day. As I grew from an out of control young person to a strong woman of character, Tom maintained his commitment to my well being. Fast forward 30+years our friendship evolved infinitely to that of family. Thank you Tom, for everything over the years. I hope you are free, reunited with your girls, out of pain and at peace. Connie, kids, heart is with each of you. Huge hugs to all.
Connie and kids, we are so sad to hear about the passing of Tom. He was a good man and he loved his family, which was always clear to those who knew him. We sat in a lot of meetings with Tom and heard his story many times, which was always interesting. He had a great sense of humor and love of those around him. He came into our store often and we will miss him.
I loved Tom so much! He was truly one of the most kindest, gentle loving people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing on this journey. We’ve shared lots of hugs and laughs. He will be missed! Fly with the Angels dear Brother! Rest in peace ♥️
I will never forget Tom grunting and growling from the tool shed as Connie and I shared knowing glances and smiles. He would be coming to take a break and we would remind him of the Serenity Prayer.
Tom took a chance on me as a single mom with no money for a deposit and let me move into the apartments he managed. We became close friends and, I like to believe that, we grew up together. What touches my heart the most is that when my heart was breaking, Tom told me the truth. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but it’s what I needed to hear and it pulled me out of the denial that was keeping me stuck. He did that 2 pivotal times in my life and it is why he will always be remembered and treasured in my heart.
Tom thank you for taking care and so deeply loving my best friend and me. You will be missed, my friend. Rest in peace.
I have one memory that stands out. Sitting at the table in the courtyard with Connie, Tom and several other people. Michael brought out his scorpion and tarantula. Tom started laughing at everyone either leaving the table or scooting away from the critters. His laugh…filled the air and you couldnt help but join in. Rest Tom…we’ll see you when its time…
Connie you and I have been through so many ups and downs in our lives, always helping each other get through…I’m heartbroken for you…that im not physically there for you…please know I am there and always will be in my heart. I love you all…
Tammy & Vincent Berry, Tom what a kind and loving Brother-Husband and Father. Tom for right now as you sleep, you will be truly missed. (REV. 21:3-4) I first met Tom after me and his Sister Tammy got Married. Him and Connie were So Nice to Me I love them So Much. The Way I would See Tom looking at Connie was priceless. He Set a Very Good Example for Men As they Should look at there Wife’s. We came to visit Tom & Connie put us up for 2 weeks in a Hotel and paid for everything. I was not Expecting that Down till a few Days before he passed he was trying to give us things. What A kind and loving ❤person. When I think about Tom ,I see Connie. Even when he had Bad things happen in his life. Tom always looked for the Good. I Can See Why his Sister Tammy, always looked Up to her Big Brother. Even Though I only knew Tom for A Short Time .Tom Will Always Have A Special Place in My ❤ Heart. (RUTH 2:12)TOM I Love You Man. ..You’re Brother-In law —Vincent
Tammy & Vincent Berry, Tom what a kind and loving Brother-Husband and Father. Tom for right now as you sleep, you will be truly missed. (REV. 21:3-4) I first met Tom after me and his Sister Tammy got Married. Him and Connie were So Nice to Me I love them So Much. The Way I would See Tom looking at Connie was priceless. He Set a Very Good Example for Men As they Should look at there Wife’s. We came to visit Tom & Connie put us up for 2 weeks in a Hotel and paid for everything. I was not Expecting that Down till a few Days before he passed he was trying to give us things. What A kind and loving ❤person. When I think about Tom ,I see Connie. Even when he had Bad things happen in his life. Tom always looked for the Good. I Can See Why his Sister Tammy, always looked Up to her Big Brother. Even Though I only knew Tom for A Short Time .Tom Will Always Have A Special Place in My ❤ Heart. (RUTH 2:12)In the future Looking Forward to Seeing Him Again. ..You’re Brother-In law —Vincent
Reading all the wonderful word that ones who know and love my brother bring joy to my heart and tears to my heart. My big brother was always loving to me. I can’t remember a cross word expert when we was teen and that always blow over like nothing was said, it was just youthful kids still growing. We had a hard childhood and that may explain why we were the way we are to people around us.
Tom always would go out of his way to help those around him if it was in his power, sometimes I think he’d make that power happen. He find a way to do something. But if he couldn’t he’d help to face it head on. After I had survived a car running me over and I had not see him in years. (life get busy and we don’t take time for family and friends, my fault) I called, said I was come to stay two week with him and Connie. He was surprise, and was so loving. We don’t some believe ( he respected me and I him) and yet he call the Chico Kingdom Hall up to make sure he know when my meeting time where and may arrangement to go out in our ministry. He pick me up and drop me off. He always wait patiently (because I like to talk) One time I was talking to much and he said was just about to walk in and get me, he had no teeth in, short lol, he said he was going to put his best Hill Billy accent and yell “YA ALL SEE MY SISTER TAMMY, I’D BE LOOKING FOR HER” lol I got back to his place and told Connie and we laugh, she said he’d do it, and I believe it, I still laugh at that night.
My brother always took time for me and ask to see if I needed anything. As I see he was that same way with all of you. I will miss my brother and look forward to seeing him again in the resurrections the Jesus Christ our Lord share – John 5:28,29 To see him young and with no more pain. I was the hard thing I ever seen was to watch each night for weeks. Even with that he try to act like a big brother. I’ll miss him greatly – Tammy (Berkey) Berry
I knew him as John before I met him. I worked with his Mom, who I called Mom, as well as did that worked with her. I married his younger brother Guy nearly 27 years ago, who also calls him John as there mother did.
My favorite memory of John was when he and I were alone, in his stepdad’s, Mel’s truck, moving some chairs for his Mom. I don’t remember why I went with him, but I do remember he put a song on the radio, The Dance by Garth Brooks. He sang along, his low, smooth, baritone voice gave me chills, it was beautiful.
John will be sourly missed. He was a giving, generous, person. He was one you would not want to boss, lock horns with, or so to speak to, poke the bear, but he would protect and fight the world for the ones he loved. I will miss him and look forward to seeing him again.
There is no amount of words that can express the love and respect that my papa had. He was always there too tell you it was going to be alright even if you knew it wasn’t, and he was there too look at you stupid when you needed it. He was there through everything. If you needed a hug, there he was. He inspired me to pursue being a tattoo artist. Everyone else told me that it wouldn’t get me very far. But he reminded me that if I want something I have to go get it. Nothing felt better then to hear him say “im proud of you” and im glad I got too one last time…with love there will come pain. But it makes you love harder. I love and miss you so much. Rest easy pops😞💘
Tom, We haven’t seen you in years, but the respect we have for you has never wavered. Always having words of wisdom, a huge heart and love, you were more than just an apartment manager. You are family too. My sisters have been your neighbor for about 20 years, and you have always treated them with love & respect. You were an amazing man who treated everyone fairly.
When I first met you, you told me.. no these aren’t gills on my face, I wear a c-pap. Lol I wasn’t even looking and didn’t even notice, but you got me laughing. You ALWAYS knew when someone needed to laugh.
You will be truly missed by so many. You touched many lives. Thank you for being you. Rest in peace Tom.
Being that John is my older brother (yes,, I call him by his middle name), I have so many memories, some bad, some good, some sad, some out right hilarious. One of the bad ones was he and I were leaving work at Cal Cams. I was riding on the back of his motorcycle. A semi-truck in front of us spilled quite a bit of diesel on the on-ramp. He lost control of the bike and we slid into traffic. As we were going down, I put my hand under his head so it wouldn’t hit the asphalt and we slid far enough where another semi-truck was coming at me, and I froze laying in front of it. He grabbed my jacket and pulled me in as the truck went by my arm. All the traffic stopped, we were able to get off the road, I remember him saying, I guess we are even, and he gave me a hug. We pushed the bike all the way back to his house. So for now, I’ll share a good one. We were fishing, on a river up by his place on his boat, trying every type of bate to get salmon mad enough to bite, and not even a nibble. He started to get upset but then a fish jumped near the boat and splashed him and they were jumping all around us. One almost made it in the boat and he said, just a few more inches and it would have been his. We had a lot of fun talking about a lot of good things and tried not talking about he or I’s childhood. It was definitely a good day. Some sad, he was there to identify our dad when he passed. He came out and cried and gave me a hug. He may have had a temper, may have even been mean to some people, but he had a big heart and usually tried protecting me. Now for the outright hilarious, again on his motorcycle, we were on our way to see our grandmother in San Andreas, when we went through an area and having to raise our voices trying to talk over the motorcycle, we were talking about the bugs, so I started to yell we should probably slow down while we were going through them, and all I got out of my mouth was, Hey, when a locust sized grasshopper flew into to the back of my throat and I started gagging on it. As it was going down my throat, we pulled over and while I was trying to get it out, one of its legs was the only thing I could cough up. He was laughing the hardest I had ever seen him laugh in 50 years, almost in hysterics. I thought he was going to get sick he was laughing so hard. When we finally got around to getting back on the motorcycle to continue driving, he was laughing so hard he was having trouble keeping the bike straight and wouldn’t stop teasing me about it for weeks. Now one glad one, we were talking one time at work and he had mentioned catching sharks, I said I had never caught one or even been shark fishing. When we got back to his house after work, he just loaded up the gear and said get in the car, I’m taking you shark fishing in the Oakland estuary. I caught my very first and only shark. He probably had the biggest smile when he seen the look on my face. So John may have been a lot of things to a lot of people, but he was my big brother. He may not have known it, but I did look up to him. So I plan on catching that salmon that plashed him and going sharking fishing again but I absolutely refuse to eat another bug. See you later big brother and I will always call you by your middle name.
Tom you was my landlord and good friend you will n are missed may you fly high with the angels n dance in the sky no more pain for you love to you n all the family many prayers dana
The first time I heard Tom share his story in a meeting, I said to myself “ok, here’s the man I need to sponsor me!” I’m not going to lie- Tom frightened me 😄 That is exactly what I needed in a sponsor. You see, I had a pretty serious problem with authority back then, and I could tell that Tom was stubborn like me, wouldn’t bullshit me, and if it came right down to it, he could almost certainly have kicked my ass on an as needed basis 😉
I did find Tom to be stubborn, but more importantly, he was kind, compassionate, had the humility to be vulnerable as a way of relating to my struggles in life, and was exactly the man I needed to guide me through the process of developing the tools necessary to identify the disturbances in my life and take the next right action to move forward.
After I finished my 5th step, Tom gave me a hug and told me he loved me for the first time. I remember the moment vividly. The last time we talked, the last thing Tom said was “thank you me for helping me”. I said “of course, you saved my life. This is what we do for each other. I love you, man.” That was just like Tom- grateful until the very end,
I have so many amazing memories of my Uncle Tom. I always remembered how he loved people as if they were his own family regardless of blood or not! I live by that to this day! I remember one time my brother who is autistic and usually people treat him with so much anger and no understanding but this man was so patient and understanding and forgiving! From that point on I looked up to him. He showed me that his childhood did not define who he was and that it was possible to change and learn how to control your anger. I’ll never forget the week I spent with him and Aunt Connie 2 years ago when we came to visit California. I’ll never forget their hospitality or those amazing steaks he made us! I love you Uncle Tom so much I hope afterlife is everything you wish it was ❤️
My most fond memories of my uncle Tom would be holiday events at his and Connie’s place. It was my first experience with any holiday parties at all in my life. I just remember being 12 years old at Thanksgiving dinner, and feeling so overwhelming happy. He always would make the whole place light up. I really miss him so much. I hope he’s happy, and without any pain in wherever afterlife takes him.
Tom not only rented a apartment to my daughter in a very desperate time of need but he also took a chance on me when i couldn’t find a job anywhere by hiring me to help with apt maintenance (as he has helped so many others before!!) One very hot day traveling back from the stinky dump Tom started sharing some of his life experiences with me… Wow!! My mouth hit the floor! God put this man in my life for a reason and I will never forget him. After work he dropped me off, he looked at me and told me he loved me and I had tears in my eyes as I told him I loved him back.. what a beautiful father figure and a beautiful person. I will miss this man beyond words…. Connie you are a beautiful person if there’s anything I can do for you let me know…….
LOVE IS PATIENT. LOVE IS KIND, IT DOES NOT ENVY, IT DOES NOT BOAST, IT IS NOT PROUD, IT IS NOT RUDE, IT IS NOT SELF SEEKING, IT IS NOT EASILY ANGERED, IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS, LOVE DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL BUT REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH. IT ALWAYS PROTECTS, ALWAYS TRUSTS, ALWAYS HOPES, ALWAYS PERSERVES, LOVE NEVER FAILS!! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
I will cherish having such a wonderful person like Tom in my life. Anytime I needed help he was there. The kindness and consideration he showed my family, especially the children, is priceless. Still having difficulty wrapping my head around his sudden passing but I can still feel his presence. Rest in peace my friend. Until we meet again.