Friday, March 29, 2024

Nicholas Elliott Tower

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Nic was born in Leavenworth, Washington on Dec. 18, 1992 to Keith and Jody Tower where he joined his older brother Zach. Nic was a tough kid. He started swimming almost before he could walk. He really scared the lifeguards when he went off the diving board at 18 months. He was in the summer swim league in Leavenworth most of his early years and was on the UW Water Polo team in college.

Nic’s love of life began with reading. He set the record at his grade school for number of books read, which only fell recently. He was a voracious reader and continued this for his entire short life.

He loved the outdoors and wanted to be out in it. With family camping trips to Canada, scout trips across Washington, hiking, biking, skiing, scuba diving and sailing he continued his quest until his death.

Nic grew from a questioning child into a great young man. I watched him his whole life and he was a much nicer person than I could ever be. He loved to help people and was a trusted friend to many. As his friend Michael said, “He was the best of all of us, just a genuinely pure person.”

After finishing high school in Leavenworth, he went to Western Washington University and then finished his Chemical Engineering degree at UW. He was working at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard as a shift engineer and recently obtained his credentials as a nuclear shift engineer. Although he liked the people he worked with, the job did not hold his interest so he was set to go to New Zealand in September. He planned to travel around and possibly settle down there. He was on a 10-day canoe/camping trip on Ross Lake with his dad, his brother and his good friend Danny, when he died tragically in an accident at the falls on Pierce Creek on Aug. 22, 2017. 

He is survived by his parents in Leavenworth and his brother Zach and wife Rosie in Coles Corner. He is also survived by his grandmother Alice and many aunts, uncles and cousins and by his numerous friends. If you met him you were probably counted among one of his friends. Nic’s motto was to live life to its fullest. He was on his way to living it that way.

A wake is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sept. 2 at the family home to honor his life. Please bring a chair, some food (grill will be available) and drink, and a story to tell about Nic. All who were touched by this awesome young man are welcome to attend.

We would like to thank all of the campers at Big Beaver Campground, the Ross Lake Resort and the National Park Service for their help in retrieving Nic and helping to get him home to us. I would like to especially thank Danny. Without his help, I am not sure if I would have made it.

I lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite outdoor or environmental organization. That would be the best way to honor Nic’s life and love of the outdoors. 

Nic, you truly were my favorite second son! And the smiling light of your mother’s life.