Thomas C. Foley
Wenatchee, Washington
February 27, 2008

Thomas C. Foley, a longtime Wenatchee resident, died on February 27, 2008, in Wenatchee. He was born on September 4, 1916, in Valley City, ND. He earned a scholarship to Concordia College, but wasn't able to attend because money was tight in the 1930s. Tom, his dad and brother, Pershing, left Montana, where the family had been living, and headed for Washington state in 1937 to find work during lean Depression years. Upon returning to Havre, MT, Tom married Orpha Haug. He and his brother went into the service and, years later, both settled with their families in Ephrata, WA. Tom sold cars for Johnson Motors before moving to Palmer, AK, and working for the school district. Eventually, he became a supervisor, retiring in the early 1980s. When his wife's health began to fail, they moved to Wenatchee to be closer to family. Orpha passed away in 1985.

As his nephew Ronnie recalled, "Tom would put his whole heart and soul into a joke and he'd be laughing as hard as you were." One of Tom's favorite sayings, when talking about living in Alaska, was that, "The weather had two seasons - winter and rough sledding!" His life was full of family, hard work and lots of advice for anyone with an available ear to listen.

Tom is survived by his son, Tom (Janet) Foley; granddaughter, Yvette (Ken) Davis; grandson Ken (Helen) Foley, all of Wenatchee; as well as several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister, Kathleen Mize of Yuma, AZ. Tom was preceded in death by his brother, Pershing, and his sister, LaVonne.

No service will be held per his request.