Thomas E. Tarry, Sr.

Thomas E. “Tom” Tarry, Sr., 77, of Oneida, passed away Monday, December 16, 2019 at Bethany Gardens in Rome.

He was born December 6, 1942, in Oneida, the son of the late Lester C. Tarry, Sr.  and Anna Mae Clark Tarry, and was a graduate of Oneida High School, Class of 1961.  For 17 years he was employed with Oneida LTD in Sherrill.  He later worked for 17 years at Grey-Syracuse in Chittenango, retiring in 2004. 

On July 19, 1986 in Vernon, he married Patricia L. “Pat” Bentley Jones.  He was a life member of the Owls Nest #1606, the US Trotting Association, as well as a former member of the Loyal Order of the Moose #421. 

Tom’s passion in life was horses, as he was a longtime owner and trainer of race horses at Vernon Downs.  He was also an avid SU sports and NY Giants fan. 

He is survived by his wife, Pat; his son, Thomas E. (Jodi) Tarry, Jr. of North Syracuse; his daughter, Colleen Tarry of Dallas, TX; three step-children, William F. Jones and Annette Mabe of Greensboro, NC, Daniel (Wendy) Jones of High Point, NC and Sally Servello and Paige Fraccola of Utica. He is also survived by sister, Marguerite “Peggy” O’Connell of Oneida; brother, Lester C. Tarry, Jr. of Lakeland, FL; sister-in-law, Mary Tarry of Lakeland, FL; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins, especially, Louis Esengard, who was like a brother to him.  Tom was predeceased by his brother, Robert Tarry; his twin sisters, Eileen Carson and Ellen Bolton; two step-sons, Matthew Jones and David Jones; and his granddaughter, Amanda Jones. 

Funeral services will be Friday at 12 noon at Coolican-McSweeney Funeral Home, 322 Washington Ave., Oneida, with Deacon James M. Chappell officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Oneida.  Calling hours are Thursday (tonight) from 4-7 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations to Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program at 544 County Road 4, Oxford, NY 13830. For any questions, please call Betty Holt (518) 669-2715.

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