Thia Jane Brown

July 21, 2002 — December 5, 2021

Springville

Thia Jane Brown held a light within her that others needed to see. She was a powerful advocate for change through her quiet bravery. If everyone in this world had gotten a chance to know Thia, perhaps it would have been a place deserving of her. Just by being her clever, generous, compassionate self, she molded the people around her for the better. Thia always made you feel like she was glad to see you. Because she was.

Thia came into this life on July 21st, 2002, after a long and harrowing birth, as the sixth of nine children to her mother, and the fifth of eight children to her father. Thia enjoyed, in her own words, “the simplicity of picking the apricot tree, playing make-believe in the horse pasture, the Nintendo games and all-night parties, the feverish excitement of the days we knew.”

She was hardworking and empathetic, qualities that made for an egg-cellent chicken farmer during her childhood. She was always the first one to pitch in around the house or help a friend. She was uniquely thoughtful, considerate, and perceptive of others’ needs.

Thia felt keenly the injustices of the world and wasn’t interested in bending her principles to conform. She lovingly cultivated her small corner of the earth. She was proud to be car-free and rode her bicycle everywhere.

Perhaps the most important thing Thia cultivated was her imagination. She immersed herself in books—comic books, graphic novels, biology, zoology, paleontology, science fiction, history, and especially fantasy. As a kid she stayed in character as Calvin (with her stuffed tiger Hobbes by her side) for weeks at a time. She contained worlds upon worlds. Whether designing vivid fantasy realms or inventing never-before-seen creatures, Thia was always creating.

In her art and stories, Thia crafted characters so vibrant you expected them to step off the page. The rich diversity and inclusion in her art were a reflection of the world she believed in, the world she was trying to create. Fans loved following along on her Instagram (@rawgabbish) and drew inspiration from her creations. Her mind was overflowing with ideas for graphic novels, animations, and illustrations. With more time, her power to light the path for others would have only grown.

She was a talented actor who had performed in many plays, including in Beauty and the Beast as the greatest Gaston the world has ever known. She was a master storyteller and a renowned Dungeons & Dragons DM. She had a beautiful singing voice, played the cello, and loved to sing and jam with her family. Every summer would find her at the Payson Scottish Festival, sword-battling kids while dressed as a ferocious Celtic warrior.

With the love and loyalty of family and friends, Thia fully transitioned in 2020. She grew her beautiful strawberry blonde hair out, and she loved pretty dresses and tights. Watching her come into her own was a true joy and her radiant beauty will be a treasured memory. She was so damn cute!

Our beloved sister, daughter, aunt, and friend left this life on December 5th, 2021. We will miss her boisterous laugh, her brilliantly clever sense of humor, her delicious chocolate chip cookies, and her kind heart. Thia was exactly the kind of person this world needs more of.

Thia is preceded in death by her brother, Evan Millsap. She is survived by parents Denice Gale and Jonathan Brown; siblings Afton Cochran (Nathan), Kimberly Sears (Mark), David Brown, Logan Millsap (Danielle), Natalie Marvin (Joe), Elihu Brown, Wendell Brown, Julia Brown, and Violet Brown; nephews Hezekiah, Rupert, and Caspian Sears, Kellen Cochran, nieces Karli and Paislee Brown, Holland Cochran, and a soon-to-be-born baby niece.

Thia deserved love. She deserved softness. She deserved laughter and brightness, like she gave to everyone else. We can’t wait to see her again. We’ll go on a bicycle ride together, raise a glass to taking down the patriarchy, and sing and jam around the campfire all night.

Visitation: Thursday, December 9th from 6 to 8 pm and Friday, December 10th from 10:30 to 11:45 am at Wheeler Mortuary 211 East 200 South, Springville, UT.

Memorial service: Friday, December 10th at 12 pm, Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South Springville, Utah.

For those unable to attend in person, you may view the Services HERE

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