Paul Douglas Ament's Obituary
Paul Douglas Ament, 77 passed away on June 14, 2024 at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma Washington. Paul and his twin brother Phillip Ament, were born on January 24, 1947, to loving parents Elmer and Eleanor Ament at Denver General Hospital. The boys were raised in Denver along with their little sister Linda. All three kids were proud graduates of Westminster High School. During his childhood Paul was the twin that usually got into things and enjoyed the great outdoors of the Rocky Mountains. As a child, he loved to fish, hunt and go camping. He was very much a mountain man in the making.
After high school Paul enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served in the Vietnam War. Little did he know that while stationed in Saigon, Vietnam he would meet the love of his life, and wife of 56 years, Tuyet Bach Vo. Before he knew it he was 21 years old in the Vietnam War with three kids and a wife. Prior to the war in Vietnam ending, he moved the whole family back to the states.
Returning home after the war Paul began working for a company by the name of Martin Marietta. Within a few years Paul was offered two new job opportunities out of state. One job was with Boeing in the state of Washington and the other job was with NASA in Florida. It was very clear that the mountain man from Colorado was not taking his family to Florida. He called Florida the armpit of the United States. In 1979 the Ament family packed up and moved to Tacoma, Washington where he raised three children Thanh, Thu, and Thao along with a whole neighborhood of kids along the way in east Tacoma. He would take the whole neighborhood camping, fishing, hunting, and rafting in the Giant 1976 Orange Ford F-250 King 4Door Crew Cab that was nicknamed “The Monster” by the whole neighborhood. He found so much joy teaching all the kids how to love the great outdoors.
Paul worked the rest of his career receiving many awards and honors for Boeing and eventually retiring and spending the rest of his retired life being there for family and friends.
Paul put his family first and took great pride in being a father and grandfather. He was most proud of his grandkids Tavis and Sienna. Right before his passing, he traveled to Ellensburg, Washington to watch his grandson, Tavis Ament, graduate from Central Washington University. To watch him smile and celebrate with family and friends was what he loved to do. He always would make sure he was at his grandkid’s school/athletic events and of course holiday gatherings for lots of food, football (Broncos or Seahawks) and Coors Light Beer.
He is survived by his twin brother Phillip Ament and sister-in-law Kasua; his niece Jill and nephew Jerry; his brother-in-law Doug Westwood; his wife Tuyet Ament; his children Thanh, Thu, and Thao; his grandchildren Tavis and Sienna. He preceded in death by parents Elmer and Eleanor; brother Don Kimble and sister Linda Westwood.
What’s your fondest memory of Paul?
What’s a lesson you learned from Paul?
Share a story where Paul's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Paul you’ll never forget.
How did Paul make you smile?