Thomas Mccormick

Thomas Neal McCormick passed away at home on May 4, 2017. He was 80 years old.

Tom was born on February 28, 1937, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to Peter McCormick and Margaret Katherine Post McCormick. He was the middle child between James Arthur and Eleanor Kay. Growing up on the Post family farm at Jarvisville, West Virginia, he learned mechanical skills, did farm chores, and especially enjoyed Sunday excursions in the hills with Shep, his part-wolf pal.

At thirteen, he joined his parents in Baltimore, where his father worked for the B&O Railroad.

He quickly made friends, but also gained "street smarts" and life lessons through high school. He enjoyed boxing, riding his Indian motorcycle, and working on a B&O wreck crew as a cook. He loved the powerful steam locomotives and worked in the nickel plate and chrome shop next to the B&O Railroad Museum.

Tom served in the Army Special Forces, stationed in Germany, as an explosives expert instructing NATO allies in diffusing unspent explosives, enjoying travel, mountain locales, and picking up enough German and French language to fool those who didn’t speak them.

Tom met Mary Canon while visiting in Montana. She was his friend’s sister-in-law. After three dates, they married on July 17, 1967, in Hazen, North Dakota, where he was employed drilling deep water wells, many of which he doused accurately.

In the early 1970s, Tom and Mary moved to Bozeman, Montana, where he was employed building Three Forks Cement Plant, and later, night security at the Big Sky Hotel under construction. Later, he worked for a special friend, Weeden Construction, in the oil fields.

Tom had a "big" personality and enjoyed his many friends. He didn’t care if they were construction buddies or CEOs. He was very creative, wood carving, ink and pencil drawings, wood canes, helped write a script for "Giants of the Wilderness," and worked as chauffeur on "Rancho Deluxe" (Jeff Bridges). Tom and Mary traveled extensively on Gold Wings throughout the Rockies in U.S. and Canada, including Vancouver Island. They collected, cleaned up, and resold muscle cars, primarily T-Birds, ‘Tangs, and Caddies. They bought and flipped five homes over their work years. After retiring in 2004 in Rapid City, they moved to Ammon, Idaho, to enjoy the great people and mountain landscapes nearby.

Tom was debilitated by a massive stroke at age 57, but he recovered to resume many activities. Recent years brought declining health, but he found comfort in the friendship and care of the Alliance Hospice staff.

Tom is survived by his wife, Mary, and by many beloved nieces and nephews and progeny. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, as well as his beloved in-laws, "Sis" Elaine and Max Stone.

Tom requested no services, and wished cremation so he could live forever in his Rocky Mountains.

No Services will be held. Tom passed away