Thomas Francis Furlong

Thomas Francis Furlong, 95, of Great Falls, a retired mail carrier for the United State Post Office and United States Army veteran, passed away on Friday February 15, 2013 at Peace Hospice from natural causes. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 18, 2013 at O’Connor Funeral Home followed by a vigil service at 7:00 p.m.at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. A funeral liturgy will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. A reception at Holy Spirit Parish Center will follow the burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery with military honors. Arrangements are being handled under the direction of O’Connor Funeral Home. Thomas was born in Great Falls on November 4, 1917 to Michael (Major) and Anastasia (Burke) Furlong. He graduated from St. Mary’s School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Montana in education. Sr. Trinitas was his art mentor at the College of Great Falls. He painted mountain scenes for his family, known as “Dad Art” and was an art master in his own right. Following the U of M graduation he served in the United States Army Air Corps until his honorable discharge in 1946. He taught and coached at Malta, Highwood, and Winnett. He retired from the U.S. Post Office in 1968 where he met hundreds of friends as a letter carrier. Tom loved to be with people volunteering his time as a member of the Knights of Columbus, Big Sky Cum Christo, Ancient Order of Hibernians, and St. Joes, St. Ann’s and Holy Spirit congregations. He was very active with the Cursillo and would work with the crews that went to the prisons and jails here, Deer Lodge and Shelby. He played Legion baseball and was on the 1934 State Champion team. He was an avid sports fan and loved the Cubs, Notre Dame, the Grizzlies and Central Mustangs. His cattle car trip to Chicago to see the Cubs play the Detroit Tigers in 1935 World Series was his favorite story to tell. If Tom was not playing golf, he was talking about golf. His foursomes involved many teams that included good friends, clergy and family. Quite often he would form a team to golf in a local charitable event and he looked forward to playing in the Montana Senior Tournament. He learned to use the computer for e-mail over USPS mail to stay in contact with friends and family. His best tools were his “Fastest Fingers” contests and the annual “Limerick” contest for “Gold Dollars.” The poems were poor in quality, but founded in good Irish spirit! He was married to Virginia Newton for 26 years and they divorced in 1970. He then married Helen Kieffer Person in 1985 and she passed away in 1995. He was also preceded in death by his daughter Jacquelyn; granddaughter Karri; parents; brothers Walter, Mike “Hook”, Edward “Dazzy” (Emmie), Eugene “Spec” (Helen); sisters Marie (Bill) Bertsch, Kathleen, Agnes (Paul) Wilcox and Eileen (Robert) Bowers. Thomas is survived by his daughters Norah (Russ) Osenbach of Mt Vernon, WA, Merri (Cathy) Furlong of Chicago, IL, Anna Rummel of Great Falls, Stasia Forest of San Diego, CA, and Janan Schools of Port Jervis, NY; sons Tim (Neats) Furlong of Goldendale, WA, Joe (Glenda) Furlong of Layton, UT, and Pat (Claudette) Furlong of Dothan, AL. He had to remember the names of 23 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Donations may be given in Tom’s name to the Ursuline Center, 2300 Central Ave., Great Falls, Montana 59401 or Great Falls Central Catholic High School, 2800 18th Ave. So., Great Falls, MT 59405.