Obituary of Thomas Sherman

Thomas J. Sherman, born Thomas Joseph Spellman III, died at Riverbend on July 8, 2013 of complications from end stage renal disease. He was born on December 21, 1951 in Camden, NJ to Thomas Joseph Spellman Jr. and Betty Louise (Brown) Spellman. He spent many of his early years with his beloved grandparents Brown and numerous uncles.Tom graduated from Sunnyside High School in Tucson AZ in 1970 and joined the U.S. Navy in the Nuclear Submarine program. He was assigned to the USS Garcia and served six years traveling to various parts in the Mediterranean. He returned to his family home in Eugene and attended college. He studied forestry and worked in the outdoors for a few years when a severe allergy to yellow jackets brought him back inside. He studied computer programming and after several years became a Computer Analyst with PeaceHealth. Tom worked for PeaceHealth for 17 years until his health forced early retirement. He had continued working full time for ten years even while on dialysis.In June 2011 during a health crisis, Tom met the light of his life Margie Sherman, a chaplain at the hospital, and soon joined her soul in marriage. Their times together were some of the most joyous ones for both of them.Tom had a thirst for knowledge and quickly absorbed anything he read or watched. He had many interests and at some point in his life, he fished, taught fly tying at LCC, was a marksman bow hunter, watched countless movies, painted beautiful pictures, did needlepoint, spoke four languages, played the guitar, mandolin, Indian flute and harmonica, had a jewelry business, made his own glass beads, loved music and was a fantastic chef. Vegetable gardening was his passion. He had a sense of humor which kept everyone laughing and was a storyteller at heart. He was truly an exceptional human being.Tom is survived by his devoted wife Margie, his son Andrew (Linda) and Tom’s long awaited grandchild Aria Grace, born July 18; stepchildren David (Regina) and Kathy (Andy), three sisters and a brother and numerous nephews and nieces.A celebration of life will be held in the fall to honor Tom’s life. Many thanks to the nurses and staff on 5th Floor OHVI and the staff at Fresenius Dialysis Center for their care of Tom. Arrangements by Musgrove Family Mortuary.