For those who visit the website Oak Creek Forum/Outta The Cornfield You should know that Tom has passed on into the Great Mystic. He was in an excellent hospice facility and feeling no pain at the end of his long, well traveled road. His brothers John and Jerry were there and helping him through his final travail. He will be cremated today.
Tom was a kind, caring man of great compassion who loved living his life helping others. A Peace Corps Veteran Volunteer, he spent four year of his youthful days helping people very different from himself in Africa. He loved meeting new people and especially folks of different cultures.
Though I've only known Tom for about 12 years I'm proud to say he is my friend and I will miss him greatly. I Really got to know him well when I lived in Orchard Mesa, Colorado. Tom's home is in neighboring Clifton and both are in Mesa County near Grand Junction. He was a compassionate man; honest and true to all.
This was Tom's theme song and he loved the high desert country of the western slope but traveled all over the west after leaving Iowa. He spent every winter in Mexico and held a citizen's card in that country as well ... BUT Colorado was where his heart called for him to abide.
Adiรณs, amigo, y disfruta del viaje hacia lo mรญstico.I doubt anyone will be maintaining his blog but leave a message over there anyway ... Tom will still know.
I came as a young man, refugee from the plains
Was looking for higher ground
Where the sun shines through the rain
Where the mountain folks and the old cowpokes
Have found a peace of mind
I guess a love of mother nature makes you naturally kind
Colorado, everywhere I go I'm in your shadow
And you're callin' to me
Colorado, the sun melts the snow
Makes the rivers flow to the sea
Say goodbye to Denver out across the divide
Last day of September such a fine day for a ride
It's a Buena Vista mornin', a Durango afternoon
Round a Mesa Verde campfire I'll be hummin' this tune
Colorado, everywhere I go I'm in your shadow
And you're callin' to me
Colorado, the sun melts the snow
Makes the rivers flow to the sea
There's a warm winter sun in the window of the car
How do you know where you are?
Colorado, everywhere I go I'm in your shadow
And you're callin' to me
Colorado, the sun melts the snow
Makes the rivers flow to the sea
