Thomas E. Overy II, died of a heart attack on November 29, 2022, just short of his 53rd birthday. Growing up and working in Cañon City for most of his life, the list of those who called Tom family was long and wide-ranging, spanning work, sports, community, and many, many chosen family.
Tom was a dedicated medical professional, earning his paramedic license in 1991, after graduating from Cañon City High School in 1988 and working as an EMT. He combined a commanding physical presence that inspired confidence and safety, with a deep well of kindness that became apparent the minute he smiled. His huge hands had a sweet touch that saved many lives and calmed and reassured many more. His Emergency Responder colleagues were his brothers and sisters. With more than 30 years as a paramedic, he impacted the lives of many who don’t know his name but will never forget him.
He was a proud member of Fort Carson Emergency Services in Colorado Springs, having served there since 2016. Prior to that, he spent 17 years at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Florence as a paramedic and Special Operations Response Team medic. A National Registered Paramedic and a frequent instructor, Tom always said that being a First Responder, was his calling, not his job.
But Tom’s favorite role was husband and father. He married Kathy Hnath in 2016, joining their 2 families into a Brady Bunch tribe of 6 children. Their home was full of much love, constant motion, belly laughing, amazing meals, great storytelling, and a pack of dogs and cats. Saturdays meant waking everyone up for chores, but then he would invariably change his mind and take everyone out for breakfast instead. But everyone knew his cooking beat any restaurant. The search for the perfect new taste was daily entertainment, googling for new ways to smoke any meat, bake it, stew it, or grill it. He loved cuisines from all over the world and nothing was off limits - unless it was a vegetable. If you missed the meal, he would describe it in sizzling detail until you wanted to drive over for the leftovers, served with a tall glass of his favorite new whiskey.
Tom brought the same enthusiasm to the field, as a player, coach, and parent. Playing football from the age of 7 through high school, he loved the game and the opportunity to teach his boys. As a coach, he led the football team from losses and broken bones to undefeated seasons, with a play call and a motivational anecdote for any situation. And when the football was over, the cheering for wrestling began.
But the smile on Tom’s face was the biggest when he was out in the forest, fly fishing or hunting. The fish was never the goal, the time with friends and family was the draw. One of his greatest pleasures was teaching his boys and his “city girl” Kathy to fish, boat, and shoot. Around the fire, he would tell old stories and make new ones. And his stories were legend. Descriptive, comic, and animated, he could make you feel like you were the only one in the room, even when he was talking to a crowd. Complete with accents, voice inflections, and long pauses for the laughs that were coming, he would take you on the journey with him.
Tom is survived by his parents Thomas and Linda Overy (Cañon City), his brother Russell Overy (Boulder), his wife Kathy Overy (Colorado Springs), and his children Brian Dohrman (Cañon City), Colton Overy (Cañon City), Carter Overy (Evanston, Wyoming), Daniel Amoroso (Denver), Sarah Amoroso (Colorado Springs) and Rachael Amoroso (Denver).
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 1500 Hours at Soldier Memorial Chapel, 6333 Martinez St, Fort Carson, CO. In addition, A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 16, 2022, from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Elks Lodge, 404 Macon Ave, Cañon City, CO.
In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to these organizations:
• Safe Passages, a child advocacy organization for the Pikes Peak region https://www.safepassagecac.org/get-involved/donate/
• Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA), 307 West Sackett Avenue, Salida, Colorado 81201.
• Organ Donation, Tom was an organ donor and encouraged others to consider the impact it could have on saving lives and furthering research.
Please note your donations are in Memory of Tom Overy via the online comments box or on your check.
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