Thomas Weston-Howard McCort
March 19th, 1941 - November 21st, 2023
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Thomas's Obituary
Thomas Weston-Howard McCort 82, of Bridgman passed away November 21, 2023, at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, surrounded by his loved ones after a brief battle with an infection.
A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 1PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, from 11AM until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Caring Circle, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Tom was born in Coldwater, Michigan on March 19, 1941, to William Robert and Sara Elizabeth “Ackerman” McCort. He graduated from Bridgman High School in 1959. After high school he went to work for the City of Bridgman Water Department.
In 1965, he began a career at Bethlehem Steel in Burns Harbor, Indiana where he was a well-respected and well-liked supervisor in the Air, Gas, and Water division. He retired in 2000 after 35 years. After several years of living in Valparaiso, Indiana he returned to the area and bought a home in New Troy, allowing him to spend more time with family and friends. He was very fond of spending time with his dear uncle, Bill Ackerman. They would spend hours sharing stories at their favorite watering hole. Tom was very community minded. He provided notary services to the area locals, frequented the New Troy Post Office to conduct business to ensure they stayed afloat, and became a strong proponent to bring municipal water to the New Troy community. He was a valuable asset to the New Troy American Legion, offering his computer skills and creativity to promote their events. He was a lifelong member of the Elks Club and a member of the New Troy Legion. Tom was proud of his family history being a great-great grandson of George and Sarah Bridgman. He was a member of the Mayflower Society, tracing his ancestry back to Edward Doty. His passion for local history led him to be a founding member of the Bridgman-Lake Township Historical Society. Together they wrote a book called Bridgman-Lake Township “The First One Hundred Years.” He loved sharing his knowledge of the town’s history and wanted to ensure that the information was preserved and readily accessible for all that were interested. Tom was very handy and was skilled at making furniture, several of his pieces are still lovingly cared for in the homes of family members. He was well known for his gardening and culinary skills, particularly his never-ending pursuit of the perfect pickle recipe.
In 2010, Tom met Laverne Farrish and they quickly became inseparable. On July 10, 2021, they made it official and were married in a small ceremony surrounded by family. Tom and Laverne enjoyed traveling to Sault Ste. Marie, visiting Tom’s daughter’s homes in Missouri, and basking in the warm winter sunshine of Florida. Together they frequented local establishments and restaurants with friends and spent time with both of their children and their families. Tom was an avid fan of his musical cousins, Cruz and Billy Contreras and enjoyed attending their performances whenever they were in the area. Tom had a quick wit, a kind heart, and was a very loyal husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend. Tom will be remembered as a strong conservative, with high intelligence, imagination, and terrific sense of humor.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Laverne; his daughters Colleen (Dwayne) Hensley, Marian (Bradley) Luna, and Anna Grindle, step-son Timothy (Kimberly) Farrish; sister Sarah Sue (Ted) Hogue; grandchildren: Lucas (Jamie) Hensley, Amanda (Halsey) Taylor, Skylar (Courtney) Luna, Francesca Grindle and Xan Grindle; step-grandchildren: Courtney Farrish and Justin Farrish; great-grandchildren: Jenaca, Judd, and Jayde Hensley and Haddie Mae Taylor; nieces, Kathleen, Meghan, Sarah Jane, Merry, and Maggie; nephews: Aaron, Jack and Will.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jack, his son Thomas, his wife June, a granddaughter Charlotte Luna, uncle Bill Ackerman, special friend Mary Myers and a host of cousins, all of whom were so important to him.
A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 1PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, from 11AM until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Caring Circle, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Tom was born in Coldwater, Michigan on March 19, 1941, to William Robert and Sara Elizabeth “Ackerman” McCort. He graduated from Bridgman High School in 1959. After high school he went to work for the City of Bridgman Water Department.
In 1965, he began a career at Bethlehem Steel in Burns Harbor, Indiana where he was a well-respected and well-liked supervisor in the Air, Gas, and Water division. He retired in 2000 after 35 years. After several years of living in Valparaiso, Indiana he returned to the area and bought a home in New Troy, allowing him to spend more time with family and friends. He was very fond of spending time with his dear uncle, Bill Ackerman. They would spend hours sharing stories at their favorite watering hole. Tom was very community minded. He provided notary services to the area locals, frequented the New Troy Post Office to conduct business to ensure they stayed afloat, and became a strong proponent to bring municipal water to the New Troy community. He was a valuable asset to the New Troy American Legion, offering his computer skills and creativity to promote their events. He was a lifelong member of the Elks Club and a member of the New Troy Legion. Tom was proud of his family history being a great-great grandson of George and Sarah Bridgman. He was a member of the Mayflower Society, tracing his ancestry back to Edward Doty. His passion for local history led him to be a founding member of the Bridgman-Lake Township Historical Society. Together they wrote a book called Bridgman-Lake Township “The First One Hundred Years.” He loved sharing his knowledge of the town’s history and wanted to ensure that the information was preserved and readily accessible for all that were interested. Tom was very handy and was skilled at making furniture, several of his pieces are still lovingly cared for in the homes of family members. He was well known for his gardening and culinary skills, particularly his never-ending pursuit of the perfect pickle recipe.
In 2010, Tom met Laverne Farrish and they quickly became inseparable. On July 10, 2021, they made it official and were married in a small ceremony surrounded by family. Tom and Laverne enjoyed traveling to Sault Ste. Marie, visiting Tom’s daughter’s homes in Missouri, and basking in the warm winter sunshine of Florida. Together they frequented local establishments and restaurants with friends and spent time with both of their children and their families. Tom was an avid fan of his musical cousins, Cruz and Billy Contreras and enjoyed attending their performances whenever they were in the area. Tom had a quick wit, a kind heart, and was a very loyal husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend. Tom will be remembered as a strong conservative, with high intelligence, imagination, and terrific sense of humor.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Laverne; his daughters Colleen (Dwayne) Hensley, Marian (Bradley) Luna, and Anna Grindle, step-son Timothy (Kimberly) Farrish; sister Sarah Sue (Ted) Hogue; grandchildren: Lucas (Jamie) Hensley, Amanda (Halsey) Taylor, Skylar (Courtney) Luna, Francesca Grindle and Xan Grindle; step-grandchildren: Courtney Farrish and Justin Farrish; great-grandchildren: Jenaca, Judd, and Jayde Hensley and Haddie Mae Taylor; nieces, Kathleen, Meghan, Sarah Jane, Merry, and Maggie; nephews: Aaron, Jack and Will.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jack, his son Thomas, his wife June, a granddaughter Charlotte Luna, uncle Bill Ackerman, special friend Mary Myers and a host of cousins, all of whom were so important to him.
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