Steven Benjamin Tolley

December 9, 1973 – December 16, 2019

Steven Benjamin Tolley, son of Steve Tolley and Sharon Bjork Tolley, was born Dec. 9, 1973 in Moses Lake, WA. He was an Eagle Scout and a graduate of University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science degree. His faith was very important to him and at 19, he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Manchester, New Hampshire Mission.

As a child, Ben was a sweet, adventurous and loving boy. In high school, he excelled athletically playing basketball, baseball and golf which he continued to enjoy throughout his life. He was a hardworking and gifted student, graduating in the top 10 of his class, and was awarded a Presidential Scholarship.

At UW, Ben majored in chemistry and was always happily ready to answer science questions for his nieces. After college, Ben studied on his own and took the entrance exam for dental school, scoring high on both components of the test. However, his passion for building and creating ultimately led him to own a construction business in Federal Way. He loved the outdoors and went on many hiking campouts with his brothers. Favorites of theirs were Havasupai Falls in Arizona, the Olympic Peninsula and rafting the Salmon River in Stanley, Idaho.

Ben was a sensitive, loving and caring son, brother, uncle and friend. He made time to visit with, write letters to, and connect over the phone with the ones he loved. He filled his home with photos of his family and he never failed to send a thoughtful card and gift for a loved one’s birthday. As a talented artist, Ben enjoyed painting, especially portraits of the ones he loved. In addition, Ben was an incredibly selfless person. He looked forward to any opportunity there was to help those in need, especially the homeless of the Greater Seattle Area. In honor of his memory, his family encourages you seek out opportunities in your community to help those less fortunate.

Ben passed away on Monday, Dec. 16 at the age of 46. For years he fought valiantly against bipolar schizoaffective disorder, an insidious disease that attacks one’s mind and mental outlook. With the love of his family he sought treatment for this illness. Sadly, this disease caused him to take his own life. It is his family’s hope that by sharing these personal details, it will help others dealing with mental illness and aid in dispelling the stigma associated with this disease.

Ben is survived by his parents Steve and Sharon Tolley; older brother Jon (wife Carrie and children Rachel, Olivia and Michael); younger sister JoAnna Guzman (husband Danny and children Hannah and Daniel) and younger brother Daniel (wife Megan and children Maison and Roosevelt).

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser’s Chapel of Memories.