Obituary: Henry, Thomas D.
Age 85
He was born July 19, 1929 in Friendsville, TN, to Obie and Carrie Blair Henry.
He graduated from the Friendsville Academy in 1947.
Tom began his career in the newspaper business with the Fairbanks Daily News Miner in 1948 while serving in the Army in Fairbanks, AK.
After his honorable discharge he worked full time as a reporter, city editor and sports columnist.
He met Marjean Chisholm (from Walla Walla) at the newspaper and they married in 1951.
They moved to Baker, Oregon in 1953 and Tom operated the Baker Feed Mill & Grain Co. until 1965.
They had three children.
From 1965-1967 Tom lived in Salem and was a sports writer for the Oregon Statesman newspaper.
He played semi-pro baseball while in Alaska and Oregon.
In 1967 he moved to Spokane to work as an agricultural writer with the then Northwest Unit Farm Magazines in the editorial department.
After 23 years he retired in 1990 as the associate publisher and the general manager and editor of Western Farmer-Stockman Magazines.
In 1968, Tom married Bobbie (Allene Roberta) Sullivan in Coeur d’Alene, ID.
Tom was an owner, operator and director of duplicate bridge clubs, tournaments and classes over his lifetime.
He also enjoyed entertaining, tennis, golf, fishing, contract bridge and traveling.
After his retirement, he and Bobbie spent many wonderful summers on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
In 2011 he moved to The Dalles to be near his daughter.
Tom is survived by his sons: Blair Henry of Sedona, AZ and Dane (Sonja) Henry of Phoenix, AZ; daughter: Katie (Kay T) Henry of The Dalles, OR; grandson, Dylan Henry Higgins of Portland, OR; brother and sister-in-law: George B. and Betty Henry, Friendsville; sister, Betty Jo McDowell, Friendsville; two nephews and two nieces; and his beloved former wife, Bobbie Henry of Coeur d’Alene, ID.
Interment will be in Idaho at a later date.