Brian Scott Thomas

On Wednesday, the 22 of November, Brian Scott Thomas, formerly of Bowling Green, finished his fight with Parkinson's disease. He called it a formidable foe. He fought long and hard. Our grief is mixed with relief because he suffered so much this past year. If you don't know about Parkinson's, Brian LOVED Michael J Fox's book No Time Like the Future. He wanted to gift a copy to everyone because it gave voice to his journey as well

Brian was born on October 22, 1958 in Dayton, Ohio to Bill and Audrey Thomas. He joined older sister, Shelly (aka Susie) and older brother, Stuart.

In 1962 the family moved to Denver, Colorado where younger sister, Beth, came along in 1963. "Out west" suited Brian and Stuart very well as they collected snakes from the foothills nearby. Brian was always an outdoorsy guy....loved to climb trees, camp and explore. Also in Colorado, Brian started his love for football, and so when the family moved to Centerville, Ohio in the summer of 1972, playing football was an important part of Brian's transition from leaving dear friends in Colorado to making dear friends in Ohio. He picked up another sport in high school--wrestling. Sports and friends were Brian's main focus in high school. He was a natural athlete, but also committed to working very hard to be the best he could be.

After high school, Brian went to Ball State University on a wrestling scholarship. He loved that experience and in 1979 and 1980 was the MAC champion for his 190 weight class. Once he graduated with his undergrad in business, he stayed at Ball State and did an MBA so that he could be a graduate assistant coach for the team. His coach said of him: "His MBA was tempered with his love of bike riding and exercise. He never utilized that MBA in the business world but he earned a Phd in living his life the way he wanted".

Brian worked quite a variety of jobs....bartender, salesman, DHL driver, EMT, medical van driver and eventually pizza delivery Work was always secondary for Brian. Pursuing whatever his sport was at the moment was his passion.

He did many sports over the years--he added power lifting after college and eventually took up cycling. He loved being on a bike. He took on one of the hardest challenges for a cyclist. He trained and qualified for the RAAM (Race Across America) in 1992. After 1.399 miles he had to stop due to injury, but even to qualify was quite an accomplishment. A more attainable bike event that he came to love was RAIN (Ride Across Indiana). He did that one every summer for decades and convinced many friends and son, Sam to join him for that.

Brian married Laurie Teegarden in December 1993. They had two children, Samuel (Sam) and Olivia (Liv), but later divorced. Brian loved being a dad, and so time with Sam and Livy ALWAYS was his priority and what brought him great joy. He also then loved and welcomed Sam's wife, Taylor when she and Sam met. Brian was devoted to "family" so he was always game to have fun with his 6 nieces and nephews with trips to the farm and late night card games.

Brian was a collector of friends. This was one of his "super powers". His death will leave a big hole in many hearts because many love him so dearly.

He also loved animals and animals loved him, and since animals are good judges of character, the many dogs and cats of Brian's life confirmed that he was a "good one".

By 2016, Brian had been diagnosed with Parkinson's. He managed to continue living and working independently until Spring of 2020. As the pandemic was crashing in, Brian was diagnosed with Alpha Gal (tick borne illness that you may not have heard of. Google it.) That led to a series of events which we can look back now and identify as the beginning of a steep decline. Parkinson's was moving quickly on his mind and body and so very quickly he needed skilled care, but of course at the height of the pandemic, long term care facilities were hardly admitting new residents. It was a process but by May 2021 he came to live at Glasgow State Nursing Facility. Of course it was hard because he longed to be independent again. The spirit was willing but the body was in a losing battle with Parkinson's.

Brian is survived by his kids, Livy and Sam, Sam's wife Taylor, siblings Shelly, Stuart, Beth and in-laws Marcia and Paul, 6 nieces and nephews--Wesley and his wife Camila and son Reuben, Nathan and his wife Sydney, Sarah, Anita, Jocelyn and her husband Zach, and William.

A dear friend wrote: we celebrate life in life and we celebrate life in death. Indeed with Brian we can see death as the ultimate healing--no more sorrow, no more pain. As with everything, Brian did faith "his" way, but it was important to him.

Brian's family is SO grateful to the amazing team at Glasgow State Nursing Facility who have given him such amazing care since May 2021 and to Hosparus who have journeyed closely with him this past year through the ups and downs. His courage, strength and determination amazed us all. We love you and miss you Brian.

Celebration of Life service for Brian will be held on December 2, 2023 at Hillvue Heights Chapel at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please give to any Parkinson's research you are aware of.

Excerpt from "Let Me Go" by Christina Georgina Rossetti

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little, but not for long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that once we shared

Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take

And each must go alone.

It's all part of the master plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart

Go the friends we know.

Laugh at all the things we used to do

Miss me, but let me go.