Thomas Darwin Yother

A Visitation for Thomas will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Valhalla Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Rd Ne, Huntsville, Alabama 35811. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 2:00pm at Mayfair Church of Christ, 1095 Carl T Jones Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35802, with Visitation from 1:00pm until service time. Mr. Yother will be laid to rest, with Full Fireman Honors at Valhalla Memory Gardens immediately after services.

Tom grew up on Avondale Dr. in North Huntsville. He made lifelong friends at JO Johnson High School where he graduated from in 1981. Tom met his wife Monica Lee Potts at the billboard company where they were both employed. He worked out in the field as operations supervisor as well as driving and operating the boom truck to construct and change out the billboards, while Monica was the art director back at the office. It was a classic tale of office romance that ended well; they married on November 28, 1992.

Tom was more keen on working than sitting in a classroom, though he did finish his associates degree after a quick two decade gap. He could have earned a PhD at the University of YouTube, however. The man loved his “how to” videos and watched hours of detailed footage on fire fighting, bridge building, snow plowing, and all types of repairs.

Tom was born to be a fire fighter and driver. Though it took him some time to get to wear the uniform, it was his calling. As a child he was fascinated by it, as are so many, but the draw of it never left him. Though he had other jobs in his life, most of them involved driving a truck. He was about 30 when he joined Moores Mill Volunteer Fire Department, and spent so much of his free time there, Monica had to join just to be able to see him. He continued to apply at Huntsville Fire and Rescue, and in August 1998, Tom got the phone call he had been waiting for all his life, and at 35 years old, began his real career. He was in his element at the fire department. Everything about the job suited him, and when he was promoted to driver, it was icing on the cake. But it wasn’t just the job that he loved, it was the people he worked with and the ability to be of service to those who were in need.

As much as he loved fighting fire, he loved his kids even more. When they were tiny and Monica was working in an office, he took care of them on his off days. He was still volunteering with Moores Mill, so when there was a fire he packed the kids up and took them with him. The other volunteer parents would help keep an eye on each other’s kids, another great community.

Tom was a devoted dad. He went to every t-ball and baseball game, every school awards day, volunteered at any school activity he could, and was more than happy to bring a fire truck to school where young Evan would help educate his classmates. When the kids were in high school and joined band, Tom hardly missed a game or competition, and when Erin was in Scholars Bowl he went to every competition he could.

In his free time he enjoyed playing guitar, working in the garden and taking long, scenic drives with his family. He was a friend to animals, often drawing critters within a 50 foot radius to him (cats, dogs, armadillos, etc.).

You always knew where you stood with Tom, and he didn’t believe in sugar-coating things. He spoke to the point and sometimes that might have sounded coarse or hard. It wasn’t; he just didn’t like wasting time - yours or his. That being said, he loved hearing a good story, as much as he loved telling them. If you have a story about him that you would like to share, feel free to take a card (available during visitations) and jot it down. It can be anonymous, if you’d like. There will be a basket to collect them.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Leon Yother and Doris Gray Buchanan, and his beloved dogs, Oscar and especially Sassie.

He is survived by his wife, Monica, and children, Thomas Evan, and Frances Erin, sister, Denise (Tom) Monroe; brother, Greg Yother; nephews and niece, Cory (Stephanie) Yother; Zach (Brianna) Yother; Claudia Aanonsen, and Nicolas Aanonsen.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valhallafunerals.com for the Yother family.