Bryan Tichota

Bryan Christopher Tichota, age 49, finished his earthly race and met Jesus face to face on Friday, December 30, 2022, in Abilene, TX due to complications from an automobile accident.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 US HWY 277 S. Abilene, TX 79606. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Beltway Park Church South, 4009 Beltway S. Abilene, TX 79606. Interment will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park.

Bryan was born on June 12, 1973, in Fullerton, CA to Robert and Cheryl Tichota.

At 19 years old, Bryan went on a life changing mission trip to India that he would still talk about 30 years later. Bryan wanted to continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and dreamed of going on future mission trips.

On December 21, 2013, Bryan married the love of his life, Carla Megan Burkhardt, in Abilene, TX. Now a Texan, Carla had made it her mission to get Bryan to say “ya’ll” but Bryan won that challenge.

Bryan worked for Casey Carpet One for nearly a decade.  He was blessed to have a friend in Gary Casey whom Bryan looked to as a mentor and spiritual father.

Bryan was extremely artistic and visionary. His dad and Uncle Duane instilled a love of trains in Bryan from childhood.  This passion for model trains continued throughout his life and he specifically modeled ON30 scale.  He meticulously hand painted and built narrow gauge trains, dioramas and miniature figures.

Bryan also taught himself how to do woodworking and finish carpentry. He and Carla started a business called Tichota Designs in 2017 and especially loved creating furniture and toys for children.  He loved building unique wood gifts, wood turned pens and his incredible workmanship will continue to live on in legacy.

He also enjoyed cooking. As with his other talents, he threw himself wholeheartedly into learning how to make new things. He never knew how to make a just “a simple meal” and loved to cook for his wife Carla, who admittedly does not have a culinary bone in her body.

Bryan also loved photography and traveling, often having to stop when he saw unique and old architecture.  He and Carla loved animals especially cats.  They rescued two brother cats who they named Duke and Lewis or “the boys.”

As an adult, Bryan and his family learned of their Jewish heritage which led Bryan to study Jewish history and gave him a deeper love and hunger for the word of God. Byran will be remembered for his radio voice, contagious smile, and his joyous laughter that filled a room.

Bryan is survived by his wife, Carla Megan Tichota of Abilene; mother Cheryl Tichota of Ft. Worth; siblings, Jennifer Tichota of Ft. Worth, Joshua Tichota of Ft Worth, Daniel Tichota, wife Melissa and family of Tennessee; grandmother, Margaret Helen Wolleat; uncles, Duane and wife Toni Tichota, Dave and wife Georgia Tichota and Michael and wife Linda Cryderman; father and mother in-law Ted and Norma Burkhardt; brother in-law, Brian Burkhardt; and numerous extended family and dear friends.

Bryan was preceded in death by his father, Robert Gene Tichota.