Thomas Jere (Tom) Coughlin |
Posted 2018-12-01 by Pat R |
Wickenburg Sun (Wickenburg, Arizona) Wednesday, November 7, 2018, p. A-5 Tom Coughlin June 21, 1927 - Oct. 30, 2018 Tom Coughlin, 91 passed away Oct. 30, 2018, in Wickenburg with his son Don at his side. He was born June 21, 1927, in Blythe, Calif., to Jere and Kathryn Coughlin. As a young man Tom was so proud of accomplishing the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. Tom served overseas as a Navy Corpsman in World War II, and was recalled for the Korean War, where he was able to remain stateside. While Tom made his living as a landscape designer, he and his wife Jessialene raised their four children in Buena Park, Calif. He was an avid photographer and through his life took hundreds of photos of friends and family. He was also a self taught pianist. He actually had the privilege of playing for Helen Keller, which demonstrated her ability to hear musical vibrations. Tom also developed a love for working out and kept this up until the end of his life. For countless years Tom went on annual horseback riding trips with the Padre Junipero Serra Riders, more commonly known as Las Tortugas. Children grown and on their own, Tom and Jessialene decided to settle into retirement in Wickenburg in 1994. He found a new purpose in retirement. He joined Community Alliance Church and became their greeter. He remained so until his passing. While losing the love of his life in 2013 Tom developed a special relationship with her nurses and visited them every Thursday until he no longer could. Tom is survived by children, Kathryn (Rick) Clendenning of North Carolina, Debra (Dan) Molnar of Oregon, Dave (Tina) Coughlin of California, Donald Coughlin of Wickenburg, nine grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jessialene; parents Jere and Kathryn Coughlin; siblings Patsy Lunn, Robert Coughlin, Gypsy Cherryholmes, and James Coughlin. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at The Community Alliance Church in Wickenburg. There will be graveside services with military honors held at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif., at a later date. Online condolences may be offered at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory. See Also: Find A Grave |
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