Thomas Patrick Gorman, 73, passed away June 25, 2018. Tom was born in Farragut, Idaho on December 18, 1944. He graduated from Serra Catholic High School in Salem, Oregon and received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Portland. He married Christine Gerharz on June 24, 1967 in Billings, Montana.
Tom served in the US Navy during Vietnam. He was commissioned as an Ensign in November 1966. He spent two years aboard a destroyer in the South China Sea and two years as a recruiter. After serving his active duty, he returned to the Pacific Northwest in July 1971. He spent the next 15 years in the Naval Reserves. He retired from the reserves as a Commander in January 1986.
Tom worked in telecommunications for 35 years, initially at Cascade Utilities in Estacada, Oregon. In 1986, he was named president of Yelm Telephone Company in Yelm, Washington, where he worked until his retirement in 2008. Very involved in industry boards and committees, Tom served as President of the Washington Telephone Association.
Tom had a passion for fast, high performance cars, travel and his beloved family. Tom’s daughters were the delight of his existence.
He was a member of St. Columban Catholic Church in Yelm, Washington. He is survived by his wife Christine, daughters Molly (Pete) Paraskos, Maggy (Charlie) Simon and Mary (Matt) McLaughlin and grandchildren, Bridget and Daniel Paraskos, Leah, Charlotte and Thomas Simon and Finan and Declan McLaughlin as well as his siblings, Dennis Gorman, Kathleen Marshall and Beth Gorman. Tom was preceded in death by his sister, Rebecca Fahrer and brother, Timothy Gorman.
Funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lacey, WA on Monday, July 2, 2018 at 9 a.m. with a reception to follow at Indian Summer Golf and Country Club. There will be a graveside service on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery in Happy Valley, OR.
