Thomas Mackey Grove, 78, of Ontario, died Jan. 24, 2007, at his home.
A private family viewing will take place Saturday from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ontario Lienkaemper Chapel. Following the viewing, friends may attend a luncheon at the home of Kerri and Doug Deardorff, 310 N. Utah, Fruitland, Idaho. A private family memorial will be held in Powers, Ore., on Aug. 19, 2007.
Thomas was born May 17, 1928, in Myrtle Point, the son of Frank and Mary Grove. He was raised in Powers until he moved to Ontario with his parents, five sisters and two brothers in 1945. He returned to Powers after graduating from Ontario High School in 1946, marrying Laura Willene Caver in 1952. He raised four children in Powers until he returned to the family dairy farm in Ontario in 1958. He and Willene bore three more children in Ontario.
Thomas worked as a logger, falling and bucking timber, laying railroad track and working section and bridge crews for Coos Bay Lumber Company until 1958. He returned to Ontario in 1958 to assist his parents with the operation of the family dairy farm, and in 1968 began work as a warehouseman for Termicold Corporation while he continued farming. He retired from Termicold in 1990 after 23 years of employment.
Thomas was an active sports enthusiast during his youth, playing baseball and basketball. He was a member of the 1944 state champion basketball team for Powers. He played baseball and basketball for the Powers Town Team after graduation and in 1948 participated in tryouts for Major League Baseball in Prosser, Wash., as a pitcher. Thomas enjoyed fishing and hunting with his children, and throughout his life enjoyed his children’s, nieces’ and nephews’, and grandchildren’s sporting events and activities. He was a devoted father and husband.
He is survived by his wife, Willene, of Ontario; his seven children, four sons: Thomas Mackey Jr. and his wife, Ranelle, of San Clemente, Calif., Phil and his wife, Cindy, of Ontario, Jon of Ontario, and Sherman and his wife, Dea, of Ontario; and three daughters: Laurie and her husband, Eddie Corless, of Fruitland, Kerri and her husband, Doug Deardorff of Fruitland, and Mary of Baker City; 23 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Thomas was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Frances Shorb and Elizabeth Young.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 26, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
