Thomas Farry

Thomas Miles Farry, age 104 years of Eau Claire, Michigan died peacefully at 4:55 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2017 with his family gathered around at his home following a brief illness.

He was born on April 16, 1913 – remarkably at the same house in which he died – to Miles R. and Mary Marie Amelia (Powers) Ferry.  He was graduated from Eau Claire High School where he and his brother played basketball on a championship team.  He served in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant during World War II, and came home to serve as a letter carrier and then Postmaster for the community of Eau Claire.  He had a passion for agriculture and was the owner, operator, and driving force behind Ferry Farms.

Tom was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles and of the Father Allouez Council #708, Knights of Columbus.  He was a charter member of the Eau Claire Lions Club, and was proud to serve as a member of both the Eureka School and Eau Claire School boards.  He was an avid fan of the University of Notre Dame, however his greatest joy was his family.

On January 8, 1949 at Saint Bride Catholic Church in Chicago he married the former Frances Elizabeth “Fran” Greene with whom he celebrated the fifty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on November 28, 2005.  He was also preceded in death by infant twin grandsons, David & Daniel; and by his siblings, Margaret Bassett, Miles Ferry, Helen Ferry, and James Ferry.

Surviving family includes his children, Jim Ferry, Tim Ferry, Tom (& Susie) Ferry, all of Eau Claire, John (& Patty) Ferry of Portage, Michigan, and Peggy (& Paul) Bailey of Berrien Center, Michigan; grandchildren, Jennifer Ferry, Elizabeth Ferry, Tricia Bailey, Meghan (& David) Kern, John (& Christy) Bailey, Catherine (& Bill) Lechlitner, Anne Schaap, Matt (& Jamie) Ferry, Mark (& Beth) Ferry, Miles Ferry, Kelly Jo (& Matthew) Severin, and Tommy Ferry; great-grandchildren Alison, Kayla, Brody, Abby Jo, Brooke, Cody, Caleb, Matt, Dylan, Isabelle, Greta, Garrett, Aidan, Rylan, Brinley, Katelyn, Christopher, Charlie, Westin, Piper, and Blake; and several nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas Farry will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Christian Johnston of the parish.  The Mass will be followed – outside the church – by Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan.  Committal Rites will be private, later on Tuesday at the family cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church on Tuesday beginning at 9:30 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Tom may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church, or to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.