Thomas Finley

TOM FINLEY Thomas William Finley, son of Thomas Theodore and Mary Stella Mitschele Finley, was born, September 13, 1929 in Linn Creek, Missouri. He departed this life, Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Lake Regional Hospital, Osage Beach, Missouri at the age of eighty-three years, nine months and fourteen days. On June 19, 1959 in Maryland, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ann Heath and to this union one daughter was born. Together they shared fifty-four years of marriage. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Rebecca Puckett; a brother, Jesse Harold and ten sisters, Bessie Ann, Ruby May, Mabel Thelma, Ollie Elvira, Mary Elizabeth, Lueretta Ruth, Alma Virgie, Sylvia Naomi, Olga Susannah and Rachel Frances. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Finley of the home; two grandchildren, Montana Puckett and McKenah Puckett both of Linn Creek, Missouri and other relatives and many friends. Tom was raised in Old Linn Creek and when the lake was formed at the age of two the family moved to Camdenton, Missouri. He was a graduate of Camdenton High School in the class of 1947. He served his country proudly in the United States Air Force for twenty years, serving in teletype communications. He fought for our freedom in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was honorably discharged as a Tech Sergeant. He lived in various places while serving in the Air Force such as Japan, Ohio, Louisiana and Alabama. After retirement he and the family made their home in Camdenton. He worked Krehbiel Engineering for several years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6514 in Osage Beach and the American Legion in Camdenton. In his spare time he enjoyed hunting and tending to his garden. He was mostly a home body and enjoyed the simple things in life. He was a loving husband and grandfather and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the memories he created for his family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2013 in Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow in Allee Memorial Gardens, Camdenton. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. in the funeral home. Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton is assisting the family with arrangements.