Thomas Peter Lavallee

GARDINER -- Thomas Peter Lavallee was born June 19, 1956; he died at home Sept. 27, 2006, after a 31/2-year fight with metastasized kidney cancer. Through it all, Thom never lost his positive attitude or his sense of humor!

He was raised, and lived in Gardiner his entire life -- and was proud of it! Thom was the son of Vincent and Katherine (Cusick) Lavallee. Thom graduated from Gardiner Area High School in 1974, where he played football, basketball, baseball, soccer and was a member of student government. In 1976, he completed the Industrial/Residential Electrical Program at Kennebec Valley Technical College. In June of 1976, he married his middle/high school sweetheart, Deanne Sirois Lavallee; they resided in Deanne's family home for the last 23 years.

Thom was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Gardiner where, over the years, he served as an altar boy, lector, youth ministry mentor besides sharing his purposeful faith in God with his children. Inspired by his grandfather-in-law, Chet Farrington, to become an electrician, in 1975 he attended Kennebec Valley Vocational Technical Center in Waterville. Thom later became a master electrician and worked for Lipman Feed Mills, where he said he blew up a few things and learned a lot of practical and not-so practical applications of electricity! He then went to the Kennebec Journal, where he learned a great deal from the men he worked with -- especially Fred Chase and Everett Gammon. In 1988, he was hired by the Leen Co., Portland, as an emergency generator technician, and subsequently went to work for Power Products, also in Portland, and loved this job! His job as a generator technician was vitally important to him; his truck was his rolling office -- and was a part of his identity. Thom knew every generator he had ever worked on -- where it was, all the parts, and who the maintenance person, manager and owner were at the facility! He jokingly referred to himself as the "Generator God!" -- of course, only at home with his family -- but, he believed it!

Thom was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, with a strong sense of caring and commitment. With enthusiasm, he supported all -- in whatever their interest! Over the last 30 years, he coached t-ball, flag football, soccer, middle school football, and high school cheer-lifting; taught sixth grade youth ministry for many years with David, his brother-in-law; cooked hot dogs for the Pray Street School Fair for 10 continuous years; was one of the founders of the Friends of Gardiner Football; Thom was the 2003 recipient of the John Burgess Award for his contributions to Tiger Football; worked with Gardiner Boosters as the first father cheering representative; and helped to cook and deliver many meals to family and friends who needed them! He also took Karen and Michelle to dancing lessons and recitals and all three kids to music lessons and their concerts. He worked on several JMG events with Deanne and her co-workers.

Thom enjoyed all that life offered to him with his right foot forward, ready to help! Appreciated by all who knew him, he had a great sense of humor even if you called at 5 a.m. or 11 p.m. and he always looked forward to running into people and talking with them.

Thom is survived by his wife of 30 years, Deanne Sirois Lavallee. Together they had three children, Karen Jane Lavallee Murphy and son-in-law, Gregory Robert Murphy of West Gardiner, Vincent Joseph "Vinnie" Lavallee of Latham, N.Y., and his girlfriend, Colleen Henzel of Albany, N.Y., and Michelle Kathleen Lavallee of Bath; and Thom's namesake -- 22-month-old Thomas Charles Murphy -- "Tommy" -- his pride and joy!

He is also survived by his mother, Katherine Cusick Lavallee; siblings John and Susan Lavallee of Gardiner with their children, Paul Lavallee, his fiancée Sarah Quintal of Augusta and Michael Lavallee of Gardiner, Marianne Ware of Auburn, Bruce and Margy (AKA Margaret) Scally of Wiscasset with their children, Mary-Kate (Scally) and Chris MacVicar with daughter, Abigail of Hillsborough, N.J., Sarah Scally of Augusta, Emily (Scally) and Andrew Booth with daughter, Sophie of Bath, Amanda (Scally) and Michael McIntire of Dover, N.H.; the Sirois Family: Marilyn and Clarence Sirois, Helen and Phil Farrington, all of Augusta and Cape Canaveral, Fla., Michael and Sally Sirois and their children, Alice Sirois of Randolph, Benjamin Sirois of Pittston, Holly (Sirois) and Jim Gagnon, with their children, Paige and Parker Gagnon of Lewiston, Janet (Sirois) and Stephen Downes and their son, James Downes, of Cape Canaveral, Margie (Thom's favorite nurse!) and Lynn Scott of Melbourne, Fla., David and Tamara Sirois with their children, Dylan, Gabrielle and Emma, all of Farmingdale; aunts and uncles Henry and Simone Lavallee, Alfred Lavallee, and a very special aunt and uncle, Gloria (Lavallee) and Bob Pollis, all of Gardiner, Lorraine Rowe, Connie and Ed Barba, Kathie and Dick Chapman, Richard and Janet Parkhurst, Angie and Lou Labbe, Bert and Thelma Sirois, Mona and Lou Berube, Larry Lambert and Larry Pare; special cousins Kate Arno and Olin Smith with daughter, Roziland, of Freeport and Elizabeth Arno of Farmingdale, Steve Lavallee of Randolph, and Patti Bouchard of Farmingdale.

Special thanks to the "Mow Guys and Donut Critics" -- Mike Walley and Dennis Monroe; massage therapist, Mike Aitken; the owner of Thom's Z3 Convertible -- Sandra Small Hughes; Phillis & Bob Curry and sons; Joy Lanzilotta and family; Eric and Joan Deerstyne; Paul and Joan Murphy and so many, many other extraordinary friends!

Thom was predeceased by his father, Vincent A. Lavallee, in February 1978; and niece, Johnna Ann Lavallee, in June 1999

In lieu of flowers: Thank You! Thom has received "flowers" for 31/2 years. His family and friends never-ending support and generosity was "delivered" when the help was most needed by Thom and his family.

"Live a good life and in the end, it's not the years in a life, it's the life in the years." Abraham Lincoln

Visiting hours will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Gardiner.