Thomas Dunlap Yocum Jr., of Snowmass Village Colorado passed away on Wednesday November 27th 2024. A cherished husband, father, and beloved brother, and friend, his strength through his fight against Parkinson's disease was a testament to his strong will and determination.
Tom was born on April 16th, 1947, in Seattle, Washington and then briefly lived in Marblehead, MA before his family moved to Lexington, KY in 1953 with his three siblings, Mary Jane, Hank, and Joe. A graduate from Henry Clay High School, he went on to complete a degree in history at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. Thereafter, he pursued a career in construction building several townhomes and the Lexington Ice Center before moving to Snowmass Village, Colorado in 1989 where he met his future wife Barbara Van Horn Yocum. He excelled in his career by founding Hired Gun Surveying Company, where he surveyed many houses in the Aspen/Snowmass area and the superpipe on Buttermilk mountain.
When he wasn't working, he loved to spend his time with his wife as well as his kids, Ty and Katie where his sense of adventure was never lost as he shared his love for the outdoors during their various trips skiing, rafting, snowmobiling, water skiing, fishing, boating, and camping. He was a noted hang glider, road rally car driver, pilot, scuba diver, spelunker, r.c. & drone pilot, and shotgun shooter.
His contributions to Snowmass Village were in large supply as he was a member of the rotary board for 20+ years, where he served as president as well. He also was a board member of the Snowmass Western Heritage Association for 20+ years and served as president for four years. Other civic services included being a member of the Snowmass Village Planning and Zoning Committee, forming the Dark Skies committee, as well as supporting veterans through Challenge Aspen.
Tom is best remembered for his outgoing and witty personality with a bit of cowboy edge, something of a bon vivant crossed with the Marlboro man. His humor was a big part of his character where he would excitedly tell jokes, ghost stories, or of pranks that he would pull on his friends.
Tom was predeceased by his father, Thomas Dunlap Yocum MD and mother Marie Chouteau Yocum. He is survived by his wife Barbara Van Horn Yocum, his two children Thomas Dunlap Yocum III, and Katharine Lanctot Yocum, his sister Mary Jane Nuckols of Midway, Kentucky and his two brothers Henri Chouteau Yocum of Marietta, GA and Joseph Grant Yocum DVM of Danville, KY, and their families.
A service for Tom will be held in the springtime TBD. In lieu of flowers please send donations to: Snowmass Western Heritage Association to P.O. Box 5745, Snowmass Village, CO 81615 or contact 970-923-8898.