Thomas Mckinley Harrer

If anyone ever cared, really cared for someone else it would have to be Thomas Mckinley Harrer. He was a warm hearted and well liked individual, and these wonderful traits came easily to him because he was such a sociable and amiable person, someone who was always making certain that those around him had whatever they needed. Thomas was a talkative person who was tactful at all times but typically said what he meant.

He was the son of Carl and Helen Harrer. Thomas was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. During his childhood he learned to be reliable and respectful. Thomas was an obedient child who wanted to win the favor of others. He found it easy to show sympathy and to perform kind acts for others. These admirable qualities would become a part of Thomas's personality throughout his life.

Thomas was raised with two siblings. He had two older brothers Carl and Don. Thomas and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they cared deeply for one another.

As someone who reveled in the sheer joy of his experiences, Thomas was always enthusiastic about new adventures. Although he had an exacting nature, Thomas was always tactful. One thing Thomas will certainly be remembered for is that, when he got up in the mornings, he was ready and raring to go. As a young boy, Thomas had a number of interests and was an active child. Thomas took part in football. In his spare time he liked attending Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Games.

Thomas was a barber for many years. He owned several barber shops with his life partner Neal Kendall. Neal and Tom were together 44 years before Neal's death in 2004.

There was one thing that all of Thomas's friends knew and will still remember, and that is that he was a talker. He could pretty much talk to anybody about anything. This quality is one of the primary reasons that Thomas was such a popular person throughout his life. But Thomas was also dependable, loyal and trustworthy. Thomas was the kind of person who simply radiated good fellowship. While he maintained personal standards and his own personal values, Thomas was very accepting of others. With a distinct skill for working things out, Thomas was often the person who would organize events. In fact, Thomas was fairly comfortable playing the role of “host” for just about any occasion. When Thomas made friends, he made true and lasting friendships. Later in life, he became friends with Jack, Bob and Jerry.

Thomas was a faithful and loving person. Some would even call his sentimental and a romantic at heart. His kindness and consideration radiated an aura of warmth to those around his. Thomas cared for what others thought and carried that into his marriage. Compassionate and devoted, Thomas worked hard to make his life partner, Neal happy.

Harmony was important to Thomas and he made every effort to maintain it with his family. Thomas was blessed with one, son Christopher. Thomas was always conscious of the feelings others had. He was reasonable and understanding. As a result, Thomas was quick to solve disputes and did so without much fuss. His secret of success in this area was simple: Thomas would listen before he would act.

In 1981 Tom, Neal and their son Chris had the opportunity to move to Hawaii and open up a home cleaning business called The Maids. They were in operation for 11 years and received many awards including franchise of the year.

Taking his work seriously came naturally to Thomas, and he expected the same from those around him. Thomas was a good team player, someone who was born to cooperate with others. He was what some would call a “people person” and it was demonstrated in his good communication skills. Thomas was a steady worker, one who was realistic about schedules. The kind of details that would give family members and work colleagues fits were situations that Thomas handled well. He could understand the details without getting lost in the broad “big picture.” He brought harmony to his work environment, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done, while always maintaining respect for his colleagues.

Blessed with a practical nature, Thomas was a person who appreciated the routine of the military. He was a man who took his obligations seriously, working well with the others in his unit. Thomas was an Army National Guard.

Tom was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and had many friends from the program in Hawaii, Palm Springs and San Diego. His favorite meeting were at Twiggs Coffee Shop. He accumulated 23 years of continuous sobriety.

Thomas was one of those people who took pride in constantly putting forth his best effort. Thomas was always enthusiastic and a great team player. Thomas also liked being a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were Nebraska football.

His high moral standards and traditional values served Thomas well with his faith. Religion and faith were important to him. He was a member of All St. Episcopal Church. He was well respected because he was such an outgoing individual who sought to help in any manner he could.

Not only did Thomas enjoy traveling, but he also seemed to enjoy planning all of those trips and vacations. He was a facilitator who could easily make up a near perfect schedule of all of the things to do and see. He rarely tired of going back and revisiting his favorite places. Favorite vacations included trips to Europe and cruises around the world.

Thomas was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of his favorites was hisToy Poodle, Kona, who was a best friend for 14 years. Other favorite pets included Star and Jaques.

Tom did not want to settle in retirement and he went to work at ACE Parking for many years. He worked the gates at the San Diego Padres and Chargers games and became well known for his cheery personality Many of the ball players knew him by name. He was once recognized as employee of the year.

Thomas passed away on March 14, 2011 at home. Thomas fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by son Chris, Nephew Jim and many other nieces and nephews Services were held at St. Pauls Episcopal Church. Thomas was laid to rest in Greenwood Memorial Park.

Tom will be missed by many neighbors, friends, and fellow AA members.

Arrangements under the direction of Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, San Diego, CA.