Holden, Maine - With a heavy heart, we are sad to announce that CMSgt Thomas Robert Bryant, USAF (Ret.), 74, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, peacefully, with his family by his side. Tom, as he was often referred to, was born on May 8, 1951, in Bangor, ME, to Robert Ralston Bryant and Mary Angela (Mutch) Bryant.

He grew up in Eddington attending Eddington School and often spent his summers with his grandfather, Carl Elwyn (Daddy Tom) Mutch and grandmother, Glydie Beatrice Beaton, where they operated Greenland Cove Camps at East Grand Lake. When he wasn't in Danforth, he would spend his time at home hunting and fishing with his dad and siblings, playing baseball, and anything else that involved being outdoors.

After graduating from Brewer High School in 1969, Tom attended the University of Maine in Orono to study forestry. It was during that time his sister, Bobbie, met a new friend at school, Laurel Ann Bowden, who would often visit her at her house on weekends when Tom was home from school. It was in the spring of 1972 that Laurel asked Tom to her Senior Prom at Brewer High School, and later that year, on Dec. 2nd, they were married. In the time prior to their marriage, Tom decided that forestry wasn't really what he wanted to do and that he had a higher calling, and in October 1972, he enlisted in the United States Air Force.

After basic training, Tom was assigned to Lowry AFB in Colorado, where he trained as an inventory management specialist, graduating with honors. He was then assigned to Loring AFB in Maine in 1973, where he and his wife, Laurel, welcomed all three of their children, Daniel, Kenneth, and Heather. In 1980, Tom received orders to Ankara, Turkey, where he served for a year with the Joint United States Military Mission before being reassigned to Loring in 1981.

In 1985, Tom was reassigned to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, working at 8th Air Force headquarters and traveling to bases across the command to review and improve supply operations. His outstanding performance earned him a promotion to Senior Master Sergeant and an assignment to RAF Mildenhall in England, where the whole family thrived - the children exploring England on school trips while Tom and Laurel toured the countryside.

In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, Tom was reassigned to Grissom AFB in Indiana. With nearly the entire supply squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia, Tom stepped up to lead the squadron in their absence. He sewed on his Chief Master Sergeant stripe in 1992, overseeing a team of 59 people, and served in that role until his retirement in 1994.

Over the course of his career, Tom earned four Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, and an Air Force Recognition Ribbon as the top Supply Staff NCO in the entire U.S. Air Force. But by his own account, his greatest reward was the privilege of serving alongside some of the finest men and women he ever met, who he would tell you, " ... Were the folks that made me look so good so many times." The proudest aspect of his career, however, more than any medal or commendation, was that his children grew up with a deep respect for others, regardless of gender or race, and without bigotry of any kind. That, to Tom, was a legacy worth more than any stripe or ribbon.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1994, Tom and his family settled back to his hometown of Eddington, ME, and he began his second career as the Warehouse Manager at N.H. Bragg and Sons in Bangor. As Tom adjusted to civilian life, he found he had more time for his favorite hobby of all, golf! Tom quickly acquainted himself with members and staff at Pine Hill in Brewer, Rocky Knoll in Orrington, and most recently, Traditions in Holden. Tom didn't just play, however, he was also very involved in planning and running many leagues and tournaments, for which he met many new friends along the way. During that time, he and Laurel divorced and then he met Barbara Bagley, whom he married in 2008. In April 2010, after 16 years of dedicated service, Tom retired from N.H. Bragg. For the next six years, he and Barbara operated Rocky Knoll until they both decided it was time to slow down and Rocky Knoll was sold.

For the next 10 years, in addition to always golfing with Barbara and his friends and family, Tom would often be found eating breakfast at the Coach House with friends, hunting and fishing with family and friends (his friend, George, and son, Kenny, would go on yearly trips up north), and singing ... boy did he love to sing!

What Tom loved most, though, was time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren, Sienna, Carmen, Ian, Camden, and Walker. He loved taking them out to eat, bringing them to the golf course to "play a few holes" and ride the golf carts up and down the fairways with his dog, Divot. When he wasn't taking them out to eat or the golf course, he would take them, along with Nana (as the kids referred to Barbara) to area bluegrass shows, fishing and watching them play school sports, perform in ballet recitals, and act in plays.

Although Tom would likely have a few more things to say, the one thing that would be truest of all is that his family is his most proud achievement.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara of Holden; her son, Robert, of Bangor; his and Laurel's children, Daniel Bryant and his wife, Sheri, of Eddington, Kenneth Bryant of Bangor, and Heather Bryant of Cape Elizebeth; brother, Timothy and his wife, Deb, of Clifton; and sisters, Bobbie of Stetson, Barbara and her husband, Cory, of Brewer, and Lee Kelly of Washington. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sienna Bryant, Carmen Bryant and Camden Bryant (children of Dan and Sheri); and Ian Bryant and Walker Bryant (children of Heather); and many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Bob and Mary Bryant; his sister, Prudy Ferraro; and brother, George "Rusty" Bryant.

A celebration of life will be planned later this summer.