Thomas Arthur Harney

Thomas “Tom” A. Harney of Bainbridge Island, WA, passed away at age 79 on May 30, 2023.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. A private family burial will be held at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed starting 10 minutes prior to the service at: https://www.facebook.com/OConnorFuneralHome/

Tom was born to Robert and Marion Harney on October 21, 1943, in Great Falls, MT. He attended parochial school in Great Falls after which he attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. He enrolled at the University of Montana School of Law (now the Blewett School of Law) in Missoula, MT where he served as a Montana Law Review student editor. Tom earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1969, graduating near the top of his class.

In July 1969, Tom embarked on a career as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He served with distinction at resident agencies in Annapolis and Hyattsville, MD, New York, NY, Great Falls, MT, Fresno, CA, and Poulsbo and Seattle, WA. Tom worked on criminal, white-collar, and organized crime cases throughout his career. Tom retired from the FBI in 1997 as a Supervisory Special Agent and Chief Division Counsel for the Seattle office. His colleagues have praised him as a dedicated agent who made the FBI better.

Upon retirement, Tom stayed active. He worked part-time for the National Park Service teaching criminal law and law enforcement techniques to park rangers around the United States. Tom spent countless hours researching the Harney family genealogy and traced the family heritage to Ireland. He located the Irish cousins and often traveled to Ireland to visit them.

Tom pursued numerous hobbies throughout his life. These included reading, especially history, traveling, hiking, marathon running, scuba diving; cycling, and even sailing after he purchased a catamaran while living in California. He especially loved gardening, and took immense pride in his yard, landscaping it with various flowers, shrubs, and trees. An avid dog lover, Tom owned five Labrador retrievers over the years: Pete, Mac, Danny, Bridget, and, most recently, Molly. Tom was a loyal fan of Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball, the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, and Kraken, and the University of Montana Grizzlies. He was a long-time member of Saint Cecilia’s Catholic Parish in Bainbridge Island.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Marion Harney. Survivors include his siblings, Patricia Huber of Great Falls, MT; Bob Harney of Lakewood, CO; and Mary Beth Harney of Arlington, VA. He had four nephews and nieces, Jim Huber of Dillon, MT; Mike Huber of Missoula, MT, Leanne Huber of Great Falls, MT, and Erin Duran of Fair Oak, England; and eight grandnephews and nieces.

Instead of flowers, the family asks that individuals donate to the Great Falls Public Library in Tom’s memory. Live streaming will be available at https://www.facebook.com/OConnorFuneralHome.

Requiescat in Pacem, Tom.