Halfway, Oregon
Tom McCord, 89, of Halfway, Ore., died on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center in Baker City, Ore. A Celebration of life Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 2, 2007, at 1 p.m. Pine Baptist Church in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held immediately following the memorial service at the church.
Thomas was born on Oct. 12, 1917, in Weiser, Idaho, to Charles and Bertha Jane (Craybill) McCord. He was raised in Weiser and graduated from Weiser High School. On July 2, 1938, Tom married Nancy V. Daggett at the Christian Church in Weiser. Tom and Nancy had two daughters, Sharon and Sandra.
Tom’s military life began when he was 16 years old. His intent was to earn a little extra money, so he joined the National Guard. He told the command that he was 18 years old and he was admitted. The branch of the guard Tom joined was known as the horse Calvary.
Tom enlisted in the Army on April 1, 1941. During his stint in the Army he served in the artillery and as a communications officer. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. Tom received the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon along with five bronze stars. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 2, 1945.
Following the service, Tom worked one year teaching Health and coached football and basketball at Council High School in Council, Idaho. On April 1, 1948, Tom joined the Lewiston Police Department. He worked in the department in various capacities and was promoted to the head of the Juvenile division in August of 1949.
In order to make ends meet, he worked nights doing all the packing and crating of household goods being shipped by Consolidated Freightways. In October of that year, the Police Commissioner, who also was the Manager of Consolidated Freightways, asked Tom to become a full time employee of Consolidated. In the fall of 1959 Tom and his family moved to Bellingham, Wash., and Tom worked as the Terminal Manager. In October of 1964, Tom was transferred to Seattle as Claims Manager, a few years later was assigned Department Head of the night operations. Tom retired from Consolidated Freightways after thirty years with the company.
Tom enjoyed taking care of his home, enjoying his family, visiting with friends and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Margaret, Parmell, Bernice and Della; daughter, Sharon who was killed in an auto accident on Mercer Island Bridge in 1976.
Tom is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Sandra and her husband Ken; grandchildren, Nancy Jo Tilton and Mathew Francis; great grandchildren, Rachael, Rebekah, Maxwell and Ethan.
For those wishing to make a memorial contribution in memory of Tom may do so to Pathway Hospice or the charity of your choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, February, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor