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Thomas James Rees

Posted 2009-04-11 by Maurine
Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona
August 14, 1996

Thomas James Rees Jr. of Wickenburg died Aug. 7 in his home in Wickenburg. He was 78.

Mr. Rees was born Oct. 11, 1917 in Long Island, N.Y. His parents were Ester Mathers and Thomas James Rees and he had two sisters, Dorothy and Jean.

After he attended two years of college, he periodically played the alto sax and clarinet with some of the Big Bands in New York.

In the Army, he played in the band and later worked for Dale Carnegie and Earl Nightingale. Tom married Mary Shorthall and had two daughters, Carole Ann and Diane Elizabeth. When Mary died in 1944, he returned to civilian life. In 1945, he married Anne Kabealo, and they had four children: Linda, Anne, Lois Anne, Thomas James Rees III and Lisa Anne.

A proud Welshman, Tom's lifelong passion was music. "Body and Soul" was his favorite song, which he would play on the piano in many settings. He was generous, had a great reverence and love for God, humorous, energetic, a strong family man, a lover of nature, music and life. He was a 32nd degree Mason. Positive thinking was his motto. Tom lived and traveled throughout the United States and enjoyed his visits to Hawaii, England, Scotland, New, Zealand and Wales.

He and Anne lived in California for almost 30 years and moved to Wickenburg in 1983. Anne died the next year. Tom had lived in Wickenburg because it is where grew to love the peace and beauty of the Arizona desert and where he experienced a very close communion with God and creation.

In his home, Tom passed away of natural causes. He had 20 grandchildren; 10 granddaughters and 10 grandsons; and one great- granddaughter.

Memorial services will be held in California.





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