Tatum Alexa Bent, 27, died on February 13, 2025, in Olympia, WA. He was born in John Day, OR and was the eldest child of Brian and Tracey (Longmire) Bent, both natives of WA state.
As a child of Department of Defense Education Activity employees stationed overseas, Tatum grew up in Europe and attended elementary and middle schools, and later 2 years of high school, in Bitburg, Germany. He loved to travel and see the world. He spent time on six continents and was especially proud of acceptance into a semester of environmental field studies in Australia.
Tatum was a talented artist who could draw or paint with amazing detail and was also very talented with creating ceramic potteries.
Tatum earned his high school diploma and Associate of Arts degree through the Running Start program at South Puget Sound Community College in 2016 and his Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in 2018. He was currently enrolled in a pre-veterinary program to achieve his dream of being a veterinarian.
Tatum is survived by his parents Brian (Asta Kurlaviciene) Bent of Peterborough, England, and Tracey Longmire (Rodney Ahmann), of San Antonio, TX; siblings Piper Bent of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Hunter Bent of Bellingham, WA, and Morgan (Anthony) Cheong also of Bellingham; aunt Amy Longmire of Lacey, WA; maternal grandparents Nancy Nelson and John Hennen of Olympia, and Gary and Jackie Longmire of Hemet, CA; paternal grandparents Barbara Pashby of Richland , WA, and Bill (Sarah) Bent of Burien, WA; aunt Denise (Michael) Brandon of Richland, WA; and many friends and relatives.
Tatum will be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held on 29 March 2025 at a location to be announced. We loved Tatum with all our hearts and miss him dearly.
-written by Rodney Ahmann
