Thomas D. Shearer Jr.

1925 - 2018

Shearer, Thomas D. Jr. NORTHVILLE, N.Y. Thomas D. Shearer Jr., 93 of Northville, passed away peacefully Thursday, December 6, 2018, at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam, in the presence of his loving family. Born on August 29, 1925, in Herkimer, son of Thomas D. and Ethel Gunter Shearer, he was the eldest of six children. He graduated from Herkimer High School in 1943 and the NYS College of Forestry at Syracuse University in 1949. On June 25, 1955, he married Phyllis L. Jenison of Herkimer in the First United Methodist Church in Herkimer; they had four children and resided over the years in Herkimer, Colonie, Guilderland, and Northville. An avid outdoorsman from his youth, he enjoyed swimming, skiing, fishing, and hunting. He was active in sports and ran the mile in high school. Following high school, he joined the Army Air Corps as a B-29 aviation cadet, coming home in October 1945, and later joined the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a master sergeant. He began selling Christmas trees that November, and started college in January 1946. Following college, Tom was employed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation from 1949 for 54 years, serving first as forester and later as district forester in Northville; regional supervisor in Ray Brook, and Forest Preserve bureau chief in Albany. He attended North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., and developed groundbreaking inventory procedures for State forestlands, working with the U.S. Forest Service. He wrote management plans for public campgrounds, the 1980 Winter Olympics, and Belleayre, Whiteface, and Gore Mountain Ski Centers. Many remember Tom for his Christmas tree business from 1945 to present, and his passion of growing Christmas trees, building a log cabin, practicing forestry, and spending time on his Scotchbush forestland. He and Phyllis were active in the church and community, and with family. A third degree Mason, he served as master of the Herkimer Masonic Lodge. He joined the Boy Scouts in 1937 serving for over 70 years, including leading the Herkimer Explorer Post, Guilderland Cub Pack 50, and Northville Troop 55. He is survived by children, Thomas (Pam) Shearer of Alexandria, Va., Richard Shearer of Perth, N.Y., Daniel (Jennifer) Shearer of Annapolis, Md., and Pamela (Steve) Junquera of Northville (Scotia); and grandchildren, Brian and Eric Junquera of Northville (Scotia); Daniel, Julia, and Sophie Shearer of Annapolis; and Megan Shearer of Alexandria; his sisters, Marilyn Green, and Jean (Vernon) Snyder; his brother in-law Edward (Ruth) Jenison, many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving wife Phyllis; sister Margaret (Oscar) Anderson; brother James (Victoria) Shearer; Lloyd Green; and sister Claris. Friends and family may call on Friday, December 14, from 4-7 p.m., at the Northville Funeral Home, with a memorial service on Saturday, December 15, at 11 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church, Northville. A graveside service with military honors will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions in place of flowers may be made to First United Methodist Church, 301 S. Main St., Northville, NY, 12134; Free Methodist Church, 190 Church St., St. Johnsville, NY, 13452; or to the First United Methodist Church, 127 N. Prospect St., Herkimer, NY, 13350. Condolences may be made to the family online at northvillefuneralservice.com.