Tommie Jo Burch Regian passed peacefully in Kingsland, TX on the morning of December 30, 2023, comfortably under hospice care while surrounded by her immediate family. She was 81 years old.
Born in Rosebud, TX in 1942 to Thomas Andrew Burch and Alma Elizabeth Robbins Burch, Tommie was raised in Waco, TX where she attended elementary, junior high, and graduated from Waco High School. While in Waco, Tommie met and married her true love of 59 years, Burnie Regian, and later came to be the loving mother to four boys, Robert, Michael, David, and Stephen, before moving to Baytown, TX in the late 1960’s.
Tommie became very active in the Baptist Church as a Sunday school teacher and the youth group, PTA, and school functions as well as local and state politics in her 20 years in Baytown. She was employed by the late Constable James Douglas until relocating with her family to the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area in 1989 for employment. She fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and all it had to offer.
In 2003, Tommie retired early and for the next 10 years traveled across America full-time in a motorhome with her husband and son visiting 43 states, Mexico, and Canada. During her travels, she discovered and fell in love with Cody, Wyoming, where she spent the summer while traveling back to the Pacific Northwest for winter for about 8 years. Cody, Wyoming and the friends that became family there were a huge part of Tommie’s life.
Many years later, she and Burnie settled in Buchanan Dam, TX where they were surrounded by the dearest of friends.
Tommie was an avid country and western dancer who loved George Strait and held a special place in her heart for Garner State Park, the Frio River in Concan, TX, the mountains of Wyoming and Yellowstone, and the Oregon Coast. She was also an activist for women’s and human rights, and participated in protests locally, statewide, and in Washington, DC to make her voice heard and to make a difference in her life and the lives of others.
She made and loved so many friends across the USA in her travels. She was a friend to all and an adopted mother to so many. Her sense of humor and wittiness was unmatched and will forever be missed.
Tommie is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Andrew Burch, mother Alma Elizabeth Robbins Burch, brothers James Burch and Jerry Burch, and her beloved eldest son, Robert Lynn Regian. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Burnie Regian of Buchanan Dam, TX; sons Michael Regian of Buchanan Dam, TX, David Regian of Highlands, TX, and Stephen Regian of Buchanan Dam, TX; daughters in law, Kelly Regian Butler of Baytown, TX and Heather Regian of Buchanan Dam, TX; sister Beth Burch of Poulson, MT; seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
A very casual Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024, at The Baytown Community Center Auditorium, 2407 Market Street, Baytown, TX 77520 at 1pm. All are welcomed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Robert Regian Memorial Scholarship Fund at Lee College Baytown, TX online at https://www.lee.edu/foundation/donate/named-scholarships/ or by calling the Lee College Foundation office at 281-425-6303
