PAINE, Thomas William

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, July 7, 2007 Thomas William Paine, 81, of Prescott, Ariz., born Feb. 20, 1926, in Pine Bluff, Ark., passed away July 3, 2007, in Prescott, Ariz. Graveside services are at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2007. Heritage Memory Mortuary assisted with the arrangements. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Thomas William Paine passed away at his home in Prescott on July 3, 2007. Tom was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., Feb. 20, 1926. When Tom was 4 years old his mother, Grace Young Paine, passed away, so Tom grew up in the home of an aunt, Edna Shilcutt, of Little Rock, Ark. At an early age Tom decided to become independent and went to work as a bellhop in the hotel business in Memphis, Tenn. Soon after, at the age of 18 World War II called Tom into the Army. He was scheduled for the war in Europe when an accident occurred and Tom was given a service-connected disability. Tom then worked in the mortuary business for a short time but decided the hotel business was for him. He served in many positions at the Westward Ho Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz. While working at the Westward Ho, Tom met the love of his life, a young widow, Ruth Summerow LaTour, they were partners for many years until Ruth’s death in 1998. Ruth and Tom moved from Phoenix to Prescott 45 years ago. Ruth grew up in Prescott in the 1920’s and 1930’s. They both loved it here and called Prescott home. Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Grace Young Paine; his father, Henry Everett Payne; his wife, Ruth; his brother, Joel Paine; and a sister, Linda Paine Jeffries; and a stepson, Gene Gano. He is survived by his brother, Henry E. Paine and a sister, Frances Maggert, both of Boerne, Texas; his brothers-in-law, John Summerow, of Canutillo, Texas, Bill Summerow, of Scio, Oregon, Paul Tucker, of Kingman, Ariz., Vic Lira, of Chino Valley, Ariz., and sisters-in-law, Norma Lira and Marge Tucker, of Chino Valley, Ariz. Tom is also survived by a step-granddaugher, Mindy Gonzales and great-grandchildren, Julia, Jake and Jeremy, of Phoenix, Ariz. and numerous nieces and nephews. A private graveside service took place July 7, 2007, at Mountain View Cemetery with Dave Pender officiating. Information provided by survivors.