Thomas Orin Corzine was born Sept. 6, 1942, to Chester and Eilene (Thomas) Corzine in Canyon, Texas. He went to be with the Lord following a brief illness on June 1, 2023.

As a child, Tom’s family moved near Hoehne, Colo. Tom graduated from Hoehne High School in 1960 with 10 other students in his class. He enjoyed telling the story of putting tacks in the teacher's chair. After high school he attended CSU in Fort Collins, and later Adams State College in Alamosa. It was there that he met Charlotte O'Bannon, the mother of his three children. After marrying, they made their home in Hoehne. A few years later they moved to the San Luis Valley with their sons, Todd and Clay. After moving to the valley, they were blessed with their daughter Lacy and quickly became involved with many community activities. While the children were young, the family was very active with Little Britches Rodeo and the 4-H Riding Club.

In October 1996, Tom came to a roping in Enid, Okla., where he met Cathy Rusch. Tom and Cathy were then married on July 2, 1997. Tom loved to be silly, and always referred to his beloved wife as Leroy. He also liked to tease Cathy that she was "blonde" as he said, and even convinced her that his favorite Bordier Collie, Howie, could tell colors. When checking cattle, Tom would tell Howie to go get the black cow, or the brown cow. It wasn't until much later that Cathy realized Howie couldn't tell colors, but instead he was chasing the cow that was separated from the herd. Tom claimed that one of his greatest talents was eating, and he always enjoyed the many delicious meals that Cathy prepared for him. Although his favorite thing might have been pie, and he was even known to have this for breakfast.

Throughout his life, Tom served the community on many different committees. Two of the boards he spent time on were the Center School Board and the Rio Grande Sub District 1 Water Board. Tom was a great horse trainer and could always tell a good horse. He enjoyed telling about the many horses he owned and trained over his lifetime. He always picked clever names for his horses, including Cher for the mare with pretty legs, Julio for the colt born in July, and Rusch for a colt born on Cathy's birthday. Tom spent most of his life deriving great pleasure from his ranch and cattle operation in Colorado. Tom loved team roping, and he devoted much time to practicing and competing in this event. One of the great highlights of team roping was when he and son, Clay won the USTRC National Champion Shootout in 2015. He also enjoyed competing with son, Todd, in century roping where the header and heelers age had to add up to at least 100.

Tom deeply loved his family and the Lord. He was always anxious to talk about his kids, grandkids and great-grands, and all that they had going on in life as well as their accomplishments. He was so proud of his family. In 2017 Tom and Cathy moved to Fairview, Okla., full time as they both needed to be on oxygen in Colorado, and they felt living at lower altitude was the best solution. On July 2, 2022, Tom and Cathy celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Then two months later, on Sept. 6, Tom had a big surprise party for his 80th birthday with family and friends coming from near and far. Here at the end of his life, Tom spent much time reading his Bible and watching the old westerns on TV. Last week before his passing, Kelly Wahl took Tom out to the pasture to see his cattle. Against Kelly’s good advice, Tom climbed over the 5-wire barbed fence and he walked through his herd, as if he knew this would be the last time.

Tom is survived by his wife Cathy; sister Laura Lee Conley; children Todd Corzine and wife Lori of Olathe, Colo., Clay Corzine and wife Lisa of Center, Colo., James Fuzzell and wife Lisa of Fairview, Okla., and Ragen Pepper and husband Justin of Monte Vista, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Bryce Corzine, Samantha Corzine, Chet (Shaye) Corzine, Blake (Aftynne) Corzine, Kamryn Corzine, Hayden Johnson, Rusch Pepper, Wesley Pepper and Bennett Pepper; five great-grandchildren Trinity, Colt, Corbin, Cordell and Olivia. Tom will be forever missed by many family members and friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, and daughter Lacy Johnson.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista. Interment will follow services in the Monte Vista Cemetery.

To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com. Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements.