Tom French Obituary

Tom Louis French Services for Thomas Louis French, 64 of McCall, who died Sunday, July 29, 2007 in a Boise hospital, will be conducted 2 p.m., Saturday August 4, 2007 at the McCall LDS Church with burial in the McCall Cemetery. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, at the Heikkila Funeral Chapel. Tom was born May 22, 1943 in Ontario, Ore. to Wayne Morris French and Eula Geneva Newman French. He graduated from High School in Reseda, Calif. in 1961 and went on to Brigham Young University on a full ride gymnastics scholarship and graduated in 1968 with a Bachelors Degree and received his Masters Degree from Utah State. Tom was a very successful athlete and won many State, National and Olympic medals in Gymnastics. Two twin brothers, from his gymnastic team, lived with Tom and his parents when they were youths in Encino and Tom considered them, his brothers. All three of the boys went on missions for their church, at the same time. Tom served his mission in the southern United States, from August of 1963-July 1965. He joined the Army in 1962, where he served six months active duty and fulfilling the remainder of his time in the Army reserves until 1968. Tom began his Forest Service employment on the Payette National Forest in 1966 working on a timber measurement crew. He returned in 1967 working in a 'fire control' position and worked each following season in fire through 1972 on the Payette Hot Shot Crew. In 1972, Tom worked for a short time on the Nez Perce National Forest but returned to the Payette and continued to work in fire. In 1974, he became a smokejumper at the McCall Base and continued to return each summer as a jumper until receiving a permanent position in 1979 where he managed a tri-regional helitack crew at Price Valley. In 1984, Tom became the Tanker Base Manager in McCall until he took the Payette National Forest warehouse foreman position in 1988. In 2000, Tom was appointed to the Supervisory Material Handler position at the warehouse, the position he held until his death. Tom collapsed at his desk at the Forest Service warehouse, in McCall, on Saturday evening July 28th and never regained consciousness. On May 6, 1994, he married Ramona Ann Fouts at Brownlee Reservoir, an area they loved to go to fish and play. Tom was an avid hunter and had hunting buddies from California, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin. He loved going to his hunting camp just to relax on his days off from the fires. Tom served the community of McCall often as a Reserve Police Sergeant for special events, a Volunteer Fireman, EMT and a member of the Search and Rescue team. He was always a giver to the end and never had a bad word to say about anyone. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife Mona of McCall, his daughters; Jamie Heather French of San Diego, Calif. and Raylene Smith French of Boise, his stepchildren; Dawn Michelle Aber and Michael Vincent Huebner and a step-grandson Dante Cross Aber. Sons; Mitchell Alton of Wellsville, Utah, Matthew Louis of Denver, Colo. and Michael Thomas of Wellsville, Utah; his mother; Eula Geneva Newman French and his sister Gay Louis French Ross, both of Issaquah, Wash., granddaughters; Amanda, Jessica and Samantha Whiteley of Preston, Idaho and grandsons; Carson and Cameron Whiteley of Wellsville, Utah. He was preceded in death by his infant twin brother and his father, Wayne Morris French.

Published by Idaho Statesman on Aug. 2, 2007.
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Jeff and I will certainly miss Tom -- Jeff loves to tell tales about how Tom would just aggravate him and hoot with glee while putting him through the drudgery of SMJ rookie training -- of course, always with a mischievious smile! He also claims Tom was one of the strongest people he had ever known -- doing one arm pullups with little to no effort. I've posted my own thoughts on the wildlandfire website (Cache Queen). I thought the family may like to see several other posts that have been made there regarding Tom's influence on their lives. We will miss him, and were fortunate enough to be able to attend the services yesterday and share some stories with old friends. Linda & Jeff Bass

Linda Bass

August 5, 2007

We are sorry to hear of Tom's passing. He was a great man we spent many hours on fires and at the McCall Fire Warehouse talking about anything and everything. We will sure miss his humor and good friendship. To his family we say he will be watching down on you and us and will never be forgotten.
Joe and Judy Carvelho

Joe Carvelho

August 4, 2007

Words cannot describe what an asset Tom was to the McCall community and Fire Department. In the short time I had with Tom at the Fire Department, I realized I had much to learn from him about fire and life. I will greatly miss Tom and will never forget the knowledge that he gave me. He will truly be missed. Thank You Tom!!

Brandon Swain

August 4, 2007

John 3:15 and Choose the Right!

See you on the other side of the vale Brother!

AZ Trailblazer

August 3, 2007

I served on the Price Valley Helitack crew with Tom in 1983. Tom was a great guy, with a smile for everyone. I was just thinking of him the other day, and I'm saddened by his passing.

Vivian Oaxaca

August 3, 2007

I am so sorry to read about Tom. I was just asking about him the other day as I know he always hunts with Bill Chu. He will be greatly missed.

Jan Yensen

August 2, 2007

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