Thomas J. Kearns Jr.

CORNWALL — Thomas J. Kearns Jr., 77, of Cornwall died Dec. 24, 2015, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of the late Marie A. (Whitford) Kearns, who predeceased her husband on Sept. 18, 2015. 

Tom was born Nov. 29, 1938, in Torrington, the son of the late Thelma (Toffey) and Thomas J.  Kearns Sr. 

Tom graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School and then served his country in the U.S. Air Force as an MP, stationed in Spain. 

He was a purchasing manager for the Torrington company that later became Timken. Tom worked for the company for 43 years and 9 months and never missed a day of work in all that time. 

He was a communicant of St. Bridget’s Church in Cornwall. He was active as a Boy Scout leader and as a former member of the Torrington Lodge of Elks. 

Tom participated on the softball team at the Timken Company and enjoyed both fishing and boats. 

He was an animal lover. It didn’t matter wild or domestic, Tom loved them. He tamed many wild animals at his home, including a family of raccoons and a flock of turkeys. He would donate dog bones to the Cornwall transfer station to be passed out after he was no longer able to have a dog of his own.

Tom’s greatest devotion was to his family, especially his wife, Marie, as he became her primary caregiver. He also was devoted to his children and grandchildren and all of their activities.

Tom is survived by his children, Arthur Martin and his wife, Carol, of Indiana, Cynthia Woodward and her husband, Thomas, of Goshen, Cheryl Johnson and her husband, Robert, of North Carolina, Thomas J. Kearns III and his wife, Jean, of West Cornwall and Michele Gorat and her husband, Peter Jr., of Cornwall; two brothers, Richard Kearns Sr. of Cornwall Bridge and Walter Kearns of Florida; a sister, Jacqueline Whitford of Goshen; 14 grandchildren, Jennifer Davis, Melissa Moore, Christopher and Brittany Hurlburt, Laura Bosio, Brian and Paul Allyn, Brian Martin  Jr. and Hugh Martin, Katelyn and Chelsea Kearns, Nicole, Danielle and Peter Gorat III; and his 14 great-grandchildren. 

Tom was predeceased by his son, Brian Martin Sr.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 29 at St. Bridget’s Church. Burial followed in Cornwall Hollow Cemetery. 

Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan. 

Memorial donations may be sent to the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association, 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury, CT 06068; or the Cornwall Fire Department, 289 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796.