Thomas Lawrence Dempsey

Obituary Thomas L. Dempsey July 31, 1935 ?" Jan. 16, 2008 Thomas L. Dempsey was born in Tacoma, Washington to James and Helen M. Dempsey. He was the older of two children. Tom passed away peacefully Wednesday evening in Tacoma where he lived for most of his life. He attended Clover Park Schools and graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory High School. He attended and graduated from Gonzaga University followed by Gonzaga School of Law in 1963. His first job after law school was for the Assistant to the Chief Justice in Olympia, Wa. He spent many years working as an Attorney for the City of Tacoma. He retired after a long career in the Army Reserves as a Lt. Colonel from the US Army JAG Corp. Tom loved to travel and socialize with family and friends and spent many summer vacations with family at Lake Quinault. He enjoyed walking, reading, and volunteering time and legal counsel to charities and was active in the Catholic Church. In addition to family time, his greatest passion and pastime was watching sports, any and all sports. Tom always had a ready smile, dry wit, and a loud and contagious laugh. He always offered help and support wherever it was needed and his benevolence touched many people. He was a wonderful father and friend and will be missed by many. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Helen (Hobi) Dempsey and James Dempsey, and twin sons, Peter and Paul. He is survived by his brother James F. and wife Judie (Kertson), sons, John F. and wife Claire (Vargo) and Thomas J. and wife Michelle (Normand), daughter, Annette Marie Dempsey, former wife Jayne (Stanich) Dempsey, his five grandchildren; Conor, Jessica, Ceara, Joshua, and Kylie, and nieces and nephew. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 7112 S. 12th St. Tacoma at 11:00am, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. Rosary will be held at Gaffney Funeral Home, 1002 S. Yakima, Tacoma on Monday, Jan. 21st at 7:00 pm, with viewing at 5:00 pm. Entombment Calvary Cloisters. Memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to University of Washington Medical Center or Gonzaga School of Law. Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.