Tom was born June 17, 1954, in Omak, “Warshington,” but soon moved to Gering, Nebraska. Although he lived and worked on the family ranch, music was where his heart was. Little three year old Tommy Bayne was known for running away from home and boogying on the tables at a nearby café. Tom started playing guitar at age five and was playing live on stage at age nine. In fact, if one could summarize what Tom truly lived for: guitars, guns, getting it on with his ladies, and trucking.
Music was Tom’s life. Talented, charismatic and charming, Tom was a performer through and through. He loved being in front of a crowd, and nothing brought him more joy than entertaining those around him with his music. A biography from one of his first major bands, Platinum Blues, stated “Rock and Roll is his soul,” which may surprise some of his current musician buddies. Tom wrote many original songs, four of which were published under K&S Records on two “45s”: Woman, Kanon Girl, Love Dorito Style, So Easy to Love. There were very few instruments that he could not play. It was not uncommon for Tom to pick up a guitar, banjo, mandolin, piano, or drum set and play a song that he just heard. He collected instruments, especially guitars. Another band Tom was very proud of was Rumor Hazzit, which he started in the mid-90s. While Rumor Hazzit didn’t do any original recordings, they played at large venues and were featured as the backing band for the Wrangler Star Search Showdown in 1996-1999 where Tom was also a judge. Recently, Tom could be seen jamming with the Treasure Canyon Band, the Sawtooth Boys, and Earl Hughes.
Tom’s second favorite hobby was guns. He loved to buy, sell, trade, build, and most of all, shoot them. He loved to collect all types of guns and ammo. The actual amount of guns and ammo he left us with is classified, and if we told you, well, as Tom would say, we would have to “take you out to the desert and leave ya for dead.” We wish we could pinpoint his favorite gun, but with how many guns he had coming and going, it’s impossible. Tom would tell you his favorite rifle is a .338 and he loved to hunt elk with it. One of his big moments of pride was getting his big bull elk in 1996 even though Thelma’s elk was bigger. Tom had a sincere love for the mountains and it only grew stronger through the years. If he wasn’t playing in the band, he was hiding in the woods.
His third favorite hobby was his ladies and family. Tom married Thelma Emma Bray on August 12, 1979, in Salt Lake City and they had three children: Kristynn (1979), Steven (1982), and Samantha (1983). Tom and Thelma lived in multiple places across Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho until Thelma’s passing in 2009. Thankfully, Tom met Julia Hopkins Maxwell in Caldwell, ID, in 2013 and they were married on September 27, 2019. In June 2016, Tom and Julie took the “trip of a lifetime” to Scotland. If you have ever met Tom, he probably told you all about seeing Germany, Holland, Belgium (McChouffe!), Edinburgh, the Highland Games, drinking Scotch at Glenfiddich, driving on the wrong side of the road, and staying at the Bayne Castle.
In the 70s, Tom learned how to drive semi-truck and trailer from his brother, Mike, and he was hooked. He spent the next 20 years driving all over this beautiful country hauling loads. If you were Facebook friends with him you would know how much pride he had in the trucking industry. Tom probably knew the country’s highway system better than any other. Until the day he died, he could tell you about almost any town or highway and pinpoint the nearest mile marker to a location of your choice. In the 90s, he got off the road and became one of, if not the best dispatcher and broker, loved by all of his drivers. Being a dispatcher wasn’t good enough though, he got experience in recruiting, Safety, Department of Transportation Compliance, and accident investigations. Additionally, he administered the most thorough piss test you could imagine and was capable of explaining the process from beginning to the end without reference.
Time spent with Tom was filled with laughter and smiles, drawing people in with the gravitation pull that bright stars always have. The absence of that light and warmth is felt keenly by those who loved him.
There will be a celebration of Tom's life at the Meridian senior center at 1920 N. Records Way from 2p.m. to 4 p.m.. There will be light snacks provided.
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