Thomas Gary Herion

     In the early morning of May 19th, the world lost a giant, but heaven gained a fierce and feisty angel. Thomas Gary Herion was born on February 29, 1940 in Santa Fe, NM to his beloved parents Marion and George Herion. His parents eventually moved their family to Klickitat, WA where Tom and his five siblings were raised with faith and love. As a boy, Tom kept his parents on the edge of their seats with wild adventures and dangerous shenanigans. It’s rather amazing he survived his fearless youth! Klickitat was this boy’s playground for hunting, fishing, swimming, and playing football, basketball, and baseball.

     After high school, Tom attended St. Martins college in Lacey, WA and graduated with his BA in Economics. At that time he was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant and earned the rank of Captain before leaving the Corps.

     On his way to Camp Pendleton, Tom stopped in San Francisco to see his childhood friend, Jane Westervelt; it was kismet. The visit ignited a love that led to their marriage on August 8, 1964, which began their journey of 62 years of marriage together.

The newlyweds settled across this great nation living in San Clemente, CA; Libby, MT; Pensacola, FL; Westminster, CA, and eventually settled in Spokane, WA, where they raised their children: Michael, Ann, and Suzy. Summers were spent in northern Idaho, where Tom would commute from Spokane to Hayden Lake and still make time to take his kids out skiing, fishing, building tree forts, and teaching them lifelong lessons. He modeled how to be the perfect father by always spending meaningful time with Jane and having high expectations for his children of living one’s faith, practicing a strong work ethic, demonstrating proud patriotism, genuinely forgiving others, following a solid moral compass, and fiercely loving his family.

     Tom built his career at Potlatch Lumber Company. He ended his 30 year career as the Vice President of Lumber Sales where in that time he trained, mentored, and guided countless young men and women and where he made some of his best friends for life.

     Throughout life, Tom was always busy with one of his many activities: hunting, fishing, golfing, playing bridge, cribbage, bocce ball and ending every day pouring the best and stiffest cocktails.

     Outside of family and his devotion to his Catholic faith, hunting was his forever passion. Although his wish of passing in a duck blind did not come to fruition, he did pass peacefully surrounded by his family. Tom has joined his mother, father, sisters Pat and Kathy, and brother Greg in Heaven. He is survived by his soulmate and love of his life, Jane, son Michael (Rachel) Herion, daughters, Ann Herion and Suzy (Derik) Schrader, as well as his precious grandchildren, Jackson and Piper Pliley; brothers George (Leslie) Herion, and Terry (Susan) Herion, along with numerous beloved nephews and nieces.

     Tom’s funeral services will be held in Scottsdale, AZ at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on June 26. He will have a celebration of life at the Hayden Lake Country Club (Hayden, ID) on August 8, 2026 from 1-3 p.m.