Thomas Arnold

The Arnold Family moved from the Salem area to a farm near Mountain Brook in Klickitat County in 1939. Tom attended the one-room Mt. Brook School for his elementary education before graduating from Columbia High School in 1950.

Tom married MaryJane Yarnell on Aug. 11, 1951. Together they raised three children, cattle and hay on their place at Mt. Brook. In 1968, they moved their family to Trout Lake for a couple of years before settling near Husum in 1970 where they made their home for the rest of their lives. Tom and Jane loved to dance from their earliest years together, and still enjoyed dancing at weddings in recent years. Family was everything to Tom and Jane. They took such pride in their children, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Tom loved babies – so if there was a baby to be held or soothed – Tom was the man for the job.

Tom drove oil delivery trucks for the Shell Oil Jobber, S. M. Johnson Oil Company, during the 1950s and 1960s before buying the business and renaming it Arnold Oil, Inc. in the early 1970s. In 1968, Tom started a small salvage logging company. Tom Arnold Logging, Inc. at one time grew to two yarders, two skidders, and road-building sides — employing over 50 people.

He served as a member of the Board of Directors of First Independent Bank for several years in the late 1970s.

Following Tom’s retirement, he and Jane raised cattle and hay at Husum, BZ Corners, and Glenwood. Sometimes on a nice day, you’d see Tom driving his blue tractor down the road with his trusty border collie, Scooter, riding on the fender. I’m not sure who had the bigger smile – Tom or Scooter.

Tom believed in working hard – but having fun at the same time. Although one of the kindest people you could ever meet — he delighted in playing pranks. No one (family, friends or employees) was exempt from Tom’s practical jokes and the resulting sparkle in his bright blue eyes.

From a very early age, Tom loved to hunt and fish; even skipping school occasionally as a youngster to enjoy the great outdoors near Major Creek. In the 1960s, Tom and Jane bought a place in Grassy Plaines, British Columbia where they took their family on vacation to camp and fish. Tom passed his love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing on to his children and grandchildren.

Following his retirement, Tom enjoyed spending several summers in Northern British Columbia at his son-in-law, Jerry Geraci’s, Upper Stikine River Adventures. Like his sisters…Tom had a knack for telling great stories. His family and friends were often entertained by Tom’s reliving stories about hunting, logging, farming, people and life in general.

When Tom was nearing 50, he got his pilots’ license; and enjoyed many hours of flying his float plane. Tom was a cautious pilot who loved and survived flying in the BC bush.

A huge thank you to Sharon for taking such good care of Tom and Jane as their health declined since 2016.

Tom is survived by children — Sharon Geraci, Laura Short and Edward Arnold; sisters — Norma Fritchey and Pinky Holly; brother — Arnie; grandchildren — Jay Geraci, Lee Short, Lemuel Short, Casey Arnold, Lynn Short and Shayne Rickman; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 66 years, Jane; parents and sister, Juanita. A celebration of Tom and Jane’s lives was held Feb. 10, 2018, at Grace Baptist Church.