Timothy Parker Mabry Obituary (2025)

With the roar of a Harley and the spirit of the open road, on March 7, 2025, Tim Mabry rode into the sunset one last time, leaving behind a legacy of adventure, laughter, hard work, and great love for family and friends. Tim died suddenly and unexpectedly of a massive brain bleed, just before his 71st birthday and official retirement. His passing has left a large hole in our hearts, as we struggle to imagine a world without him. Timothy Parker Mabry was born in Yakima, Washington, on March 31, 1954, to Walter and Edith (Mai) Mabry. He grew up with his older sister, Beth, and younger brother, Kevin, on N. 33rd Avenue. Tim's love of all things motorized became apparent at an early age. He enjoyed working on and riding motorbikes with his Uncle Al, zipping around town in a dune buggy, and "dragging the Ave" in his Chevy El Camino in high school. He plotted many shenanigans to annoy Beth and her best friend, Cheryl (which they totally deserved as payback), but he also rescued Beth from some touchy situations with finesse and discretion. Tim attended Eisenhower High School, where he played trombone in the band and enjoyed his shop classes. He graduated in 1972 and narrowly missed being drafted for the Vietnam War. His good fortune continued when he met Dianne Best from Selah as she was working at the Lariat drive-in restaurant in Yakima. They were married on December 15, 1973, at Central Lutheran Church. Tim and Dianne were blessed with two children, Julie and Brandon. After high school, Tim worked at Valley Toyota for a short time, and then for several years at Shields Bag and Printing, before joining his father in business at Bestway Pawn Mart in 1979. He spent the rest of his career at Bestway, eventually taking over the business and making many improvements. He was active in the Washington State Pawnbrokers Association and served on its board of directors. He liked to give customers a hard time at work, but it was all in fun. He hated to miss a day of work, even if he was sick. Due to changes in state regulations for gun sales, Tim and Dianne had recently begun the process of closing their business and were anticipating the enjoyment of relaxation and recreation together in their retirement years, but sadly, Tim's untimely passing has cut those dreams short. Tim was devoted to his family and friends. He and Dianne have been nearly inseparable for many years, as they were working together at the store, riding together on their Harley Ultra Classic CVO motorcycle or Harley Trike, hanging out together at Club 26A, where he also served on the board of directors for several years, and enjoying many cruises and vacations, including traveling throughout the United States and Canada, Mexico, and even Colombia. They were devoted to their grandchildren and took them on special vacations together annually for many years, creating cherished memories for all. Like his grandson, Jace, Tim loved trains and found a new train adventure to take Jace on every year for his birthday. He also amassed an extensive collection of G-scale model trains over the years. Tim loved his Australian bulldogs, Harley, Deuce, and Bella, all of whom are now deceased. He loved boating and water-skiing, and he could deep-start on a slalom ski. He dreamed of restoring his 1929 Model A roadster pickup and converting it into a hot rod, and he loved hitting the open road with Dianne on their Harley, then relaxing at the end of the day with Pendleton Whiskey and Pepsi. More than anything, Tim was known for how much he loved his family and friends. He sometimes tried to appear tough, but everyone knew that Tim was a "softie." He was the first person that most of us called if we needed any kind of help, and we could count on him to be there. He assisted his parents in many ways during their retirement years and he looked out for his sister, other family members, and friends whenever they needed anything. Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Edith Mabry, his sister, Lizabeth (Beth) Farrell, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He will be missed beyond measure by his wife, Dianne Mabry, his daughter, Julie Bremerman, and her husband, Chad, his son, Brandon Mabry, and his wife, Meleah, his grandchildren, Hannah and Emma Bremerman and Kierra and Jace Mabry, his brother, Kevin Mabry, and his wife, Kathy, his uncle, Howard Mai, his aunt, Betty Mai, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. To honor Tim's memory, please reach out and help a friend in need. A celebration of Tim's life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Breakthrough Church (1220 Business Pkwy, Union Gap, WA). Please wear your favorite jeans and t-shirts; Harley or hot rod t-shirts are especially encouraged. The service will be followed by a private reception.