Tribute to Tom

[Den Socling]

It's good to see everybody lighten up a little bit. It hurt to see all of the suffering around the forum lately. Mr. Tom would want us to just adjust to this revoltin' situation.

[Tamiam]

Yes, there is a Tom story behind this shirt.  We asked the ff members to vote on some sayings for our shirts.  Tom didn't vote he submitted this one.

He had one in his bright red.

 



sorry guess you can't read it too well, Kevie is not the best with a camera.

It says  "I'm a Logrite hooker, are you?

[DanG]

You're right, Den.  In fact, we lightened up quite a bit yesterday.  After the services yesterday, we lit up the world with shotgun blasts, then the Forestry Forum contingent slipped off to the edge of the preacher's yard, and shared a toast to our friend from a bottle that Tom kept hidden in my closet.  I had asked Tom why he left it there instead of taking it home, and he said, "If I take it home, Charlie will drink it up next time he visits."  Afterward, I presented that bottle and the remaining contents to Charlie with the instruction that he should let his Brother buy him a drink.

After we parted ways for our return trips, Raider Bill followed along behind Woodbowl, Fishpharmer and I to a little BBQ house I knew about where we visited some more and enjoyed some pretty good sandwiches.  We lingered there for a while, then went outside and visited some more before finally prying ourselves loose and heading west as RB continued southward.  Now those two and I had talked all the way over there and while we were there, and we talked all the way back.  Then when we got here, we stood in the yard and talked another hour.  We talked about Tom and sawmills, and Tom and fishing, and Tom and life in general, and Tom.  We laughed a lot and argued about kerf width a little(those bandmill guys are really hung up on that!).

We're all gonna miss our Buddy, but we'll get on just fine as we go along through life, especially with all Tom taught us about it.

[DoubleD]

In memory of Mr. Tom

[WDH]

DoubleD,

You look exceptionally nice in that red shirt!  Red is definitely your color  .

It is awesome that so many people have donned red in honor of Mr. Tom.

[sawguy21]

Paul H and I had a few laughs today remembering Tom. Paul had met him, I never did but considered him a friend. He was a special guy, the world is poorer without him.

[Coon]

I had a red hoodie on today in memory of our good friend.  I don't have a red shirt otherwise and being that it is cool outside these days noone would have seen it otherwise.  I did get asked once today why I had a red hoodie on though.  I told him that it was in memory of a great guy and that many people around the world are wearing read today for the same reason.  He said great answer.     I never got a picture of it though.    I do however plan to wear it again tomorrow. 

[WH_Conley]

I wore mine. I felt that it was only right to get a little sawdust on it too. Have pictures but can't get them to post, this computer is giving me fits.

[Meadows Miller]

I wore My old Heartland Timber Products polo shirt 

I think We should have a memorial day for Tom every year to remember him Red Shirt Day 

[Jeff]

You read my mind Chris.    If you look at the calendar, you will see I'd added two Red Shirt Days to it. 

November 25th, The day of Tom's Birth  and
March 27th, the day Tom joined the Forestry Forum.

I'm not ready to give up my red shirt. I've got one on under my regular button shirt style I wear.

[DanG]

What would Tom say?

"Good show!"

[asy]

I think that's a fantastic idea!   

And, I must say, I really love the idea of the 'logrite hooker' shirt!!!  Coz ya know, I like being a logrite hooker 

[Texas Ranger]

We have a fishing group here in Texas called "The Hookers" and their t-shirts never fail to draw attention.

[york]

HI all,

I think that,another tribute to TOM,would be to click on the thread "Tom`s funeral" and there is a link,where you could make a donation to keep his guest book open forever,thanks w.a.miller

[Coon]

I forgot to mention that I wear my old red colored plaid looking jacket that is pretty tore up and tattered every time I go out cutting firewood.  I plan on doing this all fall in memory of Tom.   

[Magicman]

Since I just learned of this sad event this morning, I wore my red shirt and jeans today while unloading.

 

[Raider Bill]

I don't care what they say about you Magic Man That's still a way cool hat!

[WDH]

Thank you for doing that MM. 

[Bill Gaiche]

MM is our top rooster. Hope to hear about the trip soon. Those whiskers sure came on fast. bg

[CHARLIE]

Well, I got home late last night.  I stayed awhile to make sure Gael was doing OK and could help out when needed.  She's a strong woman and also had her wonderful sister, Jan, there, so she's in good hands.

Tom was a wonderful brother and tolerated me right well through his life.  In spite of the times I woke him up by squirting him with ice water or the time I threw Tabasco sauce in his eyes, we were real close.  We always had a good time when we were together.  I'm going to miss him a lot and I'm still not handling losing him all that well.

All of the notes on the forum are very much appreciated and it has amazed me at how many lives Tom touched in his lifetime.  I went to the viewing and was taken aback at how many people came.  I wasn't myself at the funeral and tried my best to put up a good front but was again surprised at all the people that took their time to attend.  I especially appreciated the Forumites that were able to come.  Nomad (Bill) introduced himself to me and said he had been sawing up to about an hour before the funeral. I liked that. There he was with sawdust on his red shirt and I thought, "Tom is looking down and smiling about that, 'cause he would've liked it."  Each Forumite came up to me and expressed their condolances and I appreciated that very much.

The funeral service wasn't long but it was a good one. The preacher that gave the eulogy was a neighbor and friend of Tom's and had even worked with him as an offloader for awhile.  Because he knew Tom, his eulogy was a good one and from his heart. Tom's oldest son, Tom IV, got up and said a few words with the primary message being that his dad left a large footprint in his life.  Our cousin John, who is as close as a brother, also got up and spoke and recited a few verses from First Thessalonians.

I appreciated the 21 gun salute for Tom at the luncheon afterward.  The forum members who came to the funeral and all of you here on the board have helped me as I get through this and I'm very appreciative for that.  I'll never get over the missing though.  And Tom was right when he told DanG "Charlie would drink it."  Cause Charlie would've........