Obituary: Morin, Thomas Wray “Tom”, Sr.
Age 87
Passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 in Spokane, Washington; Tom was born February 5, 1927 in Rural Worth County, Missouri, to Paul Edward Morin and Carrie Sybil (Carroll) Morin.
Tom spent most of his youth growing up with his large batch of siblings and cousins in the area of Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 at the age of 17 and did his training at Farragut, Idaho.
He served on the battleship U.S.S.
North Carolina.
He could remember being in Tokyo Bay when the Peace Treaty was signed.
After the war, he returned to Missouri, where a childhood friend convinced him to enlist in the U.S. Air Force.
He took the advice and served his country a full twenty years.
While stationed at Fairchild AFB he went on a blind date with our Mom and apparently hit it off.
After dating around 6 months they wed in Burley, Idaho on October 13, 1952.
They lived in Spokane in between stays at Prestwick AFB in Scotland and Minot AFB.
When Tom retired from the Air Force in May of 1968, he went to work as a meat cutter at various small stores, which included: Low-Cost Foods, Starco Markets, Inland Markets and Excell Foods.
He eventually became the Meat Market Manager and was known to have very high standards about how his meat cases were kept.
He was a kind and caring boss to those who worked for him, including his daughter Jodi who has continued his work ethic into her years as a meat wrapper.
Tom loved fishing at the various lakes in the Spokane area, but he and our mom especially liked Lake Roosevelt and spent almost every summer weekend and vacation at Gifford Campground.
He was very involved with the Masonic Orders, including North Hill Lodge #210, North Spokane Shrine Club, Sadir Khan Grotto and Order of the Eastern Star #163.
He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and the VFW Post #51.
He was a wonderful grandfather to his only grandchild, McKenzie Elliott.
She and her PaPa had many adventures over the past 17 years.
They traveled together almost every summer while his health allowed.
Family members who have passed away before Tom include his parents; his wife Shirley Ann Augusta (Broden) Morin; his brothers Edward Morin of Palo Alto, California, Ronald Morin of Brookfield, Missouri, and Billie Morin who died as a child; his sisters Margaret “Jean” Tandy of Burleson, Texas, and Bess Pickering of Grant City, Missouri.
Surviving family members include his children Thomas W. Morin Jr., Jodi Morin and son-in-law Dan Pupo, Ami Elliott, son-in-law Doug Elliott and granddaughter McKenzie Elliott all of Spokane; sister Helen Kingdon of Lawndale, California; sister Berta Quick and brother-in-law Kenneth Quick of Redding, Iowa; brother Donald Morin and sister-in-law Beverly Morin of Allendale, Missouri; brother Charles Morin and sister-in-law Bonnie Morin of Chillicothe, Missouri; James Morin and sister-in-law Chon Morin of Puyallup, Washington.
Also are remaining sisters-in-law Dorothy Morin of Brookfield, Missouri and Diane Broden and Doris Broden of North Dakota.
Tom had 54 nieces and nephews and many grand and great nieces and nephews.
He has a special niece, Cindy Robinson and her husband Robbie, her son Christopher Robinson (deceased), her daughter Erika Bonnett and son-in-law Bryan Bonnett, and granddaughters, Cadence and Mason Bonnett all of Spokane, who were a very important part of his life.
The family would like to thank all the friends and family for the support and friendship throughout the years; especially the Akers, Musser and Cooper families, friends of our family for over 50 years.
The family cannot express the level of gratitude we feel for Hospice of Spokane and their wonderful Hospice House.
Also, we would like to thank Sue Cain of Spokane Urology for her care and sense of humor which kept us going in caring for Dad over the years.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 10 AM, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8441 N. Indian Trail Road, Spokane, Washington; Pastor Justin Johnson presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Tom’s name to Hospice of Spokane-Hospice House, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210 or to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children (911 W. 5th Ave., Spokane, WA 99204).
To view Tom’s online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.