Thomas W. Mcbrien

Thomas W. McBrien Jr., of Carbon County, died peacefully on March 26, 2020. He was a man of great faith, and was ready to go home. He was married to Marie McBrien for 60 years. He was the founder and former owner of Bucks County River Country. He didn’t have the opportunity for much formal education, yet he left a legacy mirroring the American Dream. Tom’s dedication to provide for his family started as a contractor for Sears, Roebuck and Company. He was loved for his spirit to celebrate and bring people together and hosted the annual summer `Sears Picnic' along his riverside home in Point Pleasant, Pa. Tom was a dreamer and a visionary. Outdoors was where he loved most and from a couple family owned canoes from Sears, he and his wife birthed and successfully built one of the East Coasts largest River Recreation Outfitters. Known first as Point Pleasant Canoe Rentals, the business was their livelihood for 35 years before retiring and moving to Carbon County, Pa. At the height of the the Business he had over 200 employees seasonally, mostly college students, teachers and school bus drivers. He loved the river and seeing families enjoying the great outdoors. He went on to create other unique outdoor attractions such as The Haunted Woods Hayrides and Pumpkin Patch Hayride. He had  renovated, owned and managed the Indian Rock Inn in Bucks County Pa. He and Marie would later move to Carbon County, Weatherly Pa. From timber on his land, he built two beautiful state of the art log cabins which are named Brookside Lodges. His family continues to rent them today as he wanted to share his piece of paradise with others. Tom was a larger than life man and grateful of his good fortune. He was caring and knew he was blessed, sharing generously through donations and support in both communities that he lived. He was always helping people out. He and his wife opened their home fostering boys in trouble and he sponsored a school in the Philippines. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the only son of an Irish Immigrant, the late Tom and Mary McBrien. He was the youngest sibling alongside 3 sisters. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Pat and Eileen. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Marie; his sister Margie Calderwood: his children Tom IV of Carbon County, Mark of Carbon County, Matthew of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Marie Maislinger of Frankfurt, Germany and Liz Griffin of Yellow Springs, Ohio and 9 grandchildren, Kyle, Michael, Julia, Laura, Clayton, Arielle, Carter, Selah, Arabella and beloved nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Tom's name to The Weatherly Area Museum 541 Fairview St., Weatherly, Pa. 18255. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services of 211 First Street Weatherly, Pennsylvania 18255. (570) 427-4231 online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com