Tom Barton of Clear Lake, Washington, passed away June 25, 2024, at age 77. Tom was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, on September 1, 1946. He was one of 14 children.  Tom served in the Canadian Navy. He worked in communications, including as a code breaker which made use of his sharp intelligence. Tom married Lillian Barton and had three sons, Wade, Doug, and Joe. They moved to Shawnigan Lake, BC, where they lived for most of their sons' childhood. Tom became a plumber, running his business, Shawnigan Plumbing. Tom and Lillian eventually divorced, and Tom moved to Texas, then several other places, eventually landing in Washington State. Tom became a citizen of the United States and made his home in Western Washington. He and his son Wade worked together in their business Keystone Plumbing for several years. Tom was a union plumber, pipe fitter, and steam fitter, becoming very active in Local Union 26 in Mount Vernon, WA. Tom met the woman who became his love, Candy Barton, and they married in 2006. He eagerly took on Candy's children and grandchildren as his own. Tom and Candy and their five dogs Mardi, Bella, Merlin, Daisy, and Annie lived on a beautiful farm in Clear Lake, Washington, for the last decades of Tom's work life and through his retirement. He loved taking care of their Skagit farm, raising chickens and dogs, planting trees, and growing a garden.

Tom loved to help others, especially family. He was a very loyal person and loved having family visit. At family gatherings, campfires were a magnet for him. Many times, family members had to grab him before the attraction brought him too close to the flames. Tom had no sense of direction, which resulted in many unintended trips and even driving past his home repeatedly without seeing it while family watched, shaking our heads.

Tom is survived by his wife, Candy Barton, his sisters Freda, Judy, Cheryl, Susan, and Elaine, his sons and daughters-in-law Wade Barton and Felicia Staub, Doug and Yuri Barton, Joe Barton, Beth Powell and Trish Wahl, grandchildren Beryn, Alexa, Danny, Karla, Courtney, Hayley, Sam, Doug, Nick, and Taelor, and numerous great grandchildren. He is predeceased by Lillian Barton and son DJ Thatcher. Tom will be cremated at the Hawthorne Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, WA.