Thomas Ellsworth Arnott Was born April 26, 1919. He celebrated his 100th birthday on April 26, 2019 - a grand party with family and friends from across the country. On May 24, 2019, he passed into the loving arms of his Maker, having know the love of so many of us left behind.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Alice Joyce "Susie" (Stevens) Arnott; his sister, Estelle Kerr; and brother William S. Arnott.
He is survived by daughter Lynell Arnott and her husband Greg Vederoff, of Casa Grande, Arizona; daughter Stephanie and her husband Glenn Tripp, of Steilacoom, Washington; three grand-children, Oliver, Lindsey, and Hannah Tripp, all of Washington State; sister Ruth Thompson; brother James and wife Joanne Arnott; sister Mary Helen and husband "Gunner" Guardipee; sister-in-law Joanne Dalton; and a multitude of nieces, nephews and cousins.
There's so much living in 100 years!
Tom grew up in Crested Butte, Colorado. When he was only nine his mother died leaving him and his three siblings to be tended by their maternal grandmother, who was a rancher outside of Crested Butte. When his father married Grace Curran Arnott, she became both mother and school teacher to that young family and there came along two more siblings.
The livelihood of most everyone in Crested Butte was derived from the local coal mines. There was the daily hope that one would come out of the mine alive at the end of the day. Tom had wonderful memories of hiking, fishing, hunting and doing outlandish stunts with his friends. He also had wonderful memories of working and playing at the ranch. At age 15 he began work as a lumber jack, cutting timber for use in the mines. At age 16 he began years of work near or inside the mine. Eventually he found himself loading coal into pit cars, a hard and dangerous life.
He was a star basketball player in his high school years. Football became more important during college. Until the war, he attended the University of Colorado, where he studied journalism, political science and urban planning.
With the onset of WWII Tom joined his countrymen, interrupting his college education and enlisting in the Army Air Corps. His first overseas assignment was in the Panama Canal Zone as a 1st Sgt.
He served with the 158-2nd Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company Aviation in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre, Caribbean Defense Command. He served with the 53rd Fighter Squadron, and was in the following battles and campaigns; Ledo, Bhamo, and Mychyena, Burma. He received the following decoration and citations: WWII Victory Medal, Air Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the American Service Medal.
Tom's experiences in WWII came to dominate his thoughts and feeling in his later years. He had many memories to pass along.
On a "delay en route" in 1943, the love of his life, "Susie" Stevens became Susie Arnott! After the end of the war he finished his education at the University of Denver and graduated with a Masters in Public Administration. There was an interlude in 1947 when he returned to work in the mine in order to afford the birth of their first daughter Lynell Joyce. Second daughter, Stephanie Gay, born in 1951, came along as Tom was beginning his career working for the City and County of Denver.
Tom has always said that his life would have been far different if it weren't for Susie. With her partnership they finished his education, raised and educated their daughters and saw them into their adulthood. It was traditional family with him "bringing home the bacon" and Susie making a home. Many steps forward for a coal miner living the American Dream!
After 33 years of working in various capacities for the City of Denver, Tom retired and he and Susie began many years of building miniature doll houses, and traveling all over the world with friends. They had many fine adventures in many countries. Often they would spend holidays with family or friends on the beaches of Mexico.
The traveling stopped when Susie became ill with advanced breast cancer. For four years Tom was her loving her caregiver and was broke hearted when the battle was lost and she passed away. After her passing he continued his life-long hobby and pleasure of gardening and "puttering" around home.
Over the years there was steady flow of nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers, neighbors and friends, all of whom were regaled with stories of Crested Butte, World War II, and his and Susie's travels abroad.
Tom lived alone after Susie's death and finally, when he needed more help, at age 97, he stubbornly agreed to move into The Manor on Marston Lake in Littleton, Colorado. His home of 60 years in Denver was sold. To the very end, Tom, with the help of his walker, walked down the long hall to join his new friends for meals. He was lovingly cared for at the Manor during his final days until his death on Many 24, 2019.
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