LOWERISON, Thomas Blair – Peacefully at Pembroke Regional Hospital on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 in his 86th year.
Tom came from a large family, where he learned early on the value of family, hard work, and making the most of what you had. Those early years stayed with him, and perhaps because of that, he spent the rest of his life making sure the people around him were always taken care of. His door was always open, and together with his wife, no friend, neighbourhood kid, or unexpected guest ever seemed to leave their home hungry.
As a young man, Tom joined the military and went on to proudly serve for more than 20 plus years. He was a hard worker and an incredibly loyal man who believed in taking care of his family and the people around him.
He was also one hell of a softball player. Tom was an accomplished pitcher, playing for military teams as well as teams around town. In his younger days he had a bit of fight in him too — sometimes quite literally. He enjoyed a drink, wasn’t afraid of a good scrap, and could hold his own with the best of them.
Tom wasn’t a man who needed a lot of words. He enjoyed his solitude and wasn’t one to openly display his emotions, but you never had to look very far to see his heart. Put a child or a dog in front of him and that quiet exterior seemed to disappear. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren adored him, animals naturally gravitated toward him, and around them you would see a playful and tender side of Tom that he didn’t show to everyone.
Over the years, that same quiet kindness extended well beyond his own family. He didn’t express his feelings easily, but his kindness spoke for him. Many of his children’s friends and neighbourhood kids were welcomed into his home and treated like family, and more than a few came to look at him as another father.
At home, there was also the Tom who could be heard walking down the hallway singing or whistling, the dad who would sit on the back deck having drinks after a hard day’s work and the man who could enjoy the company around him just as much as he enjoyed retreating back into his own space afterward.
After nearly 59 years of marriage, a lifetime of hard work, raising a family, serving his country, friendships, softball games, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and countless people fed around the family table, Tom leaves behind a life that was perhaps best defined by something very simple: He was a good man. A loyal man. A hardworking man. A man who appreciated what he had and never hesitated to share it with others. He will be deeply missed by the many people — and undoubtedly more than a few dogs — who were lucky enough to call him family, friend, or simply Tom.
Tom is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Lois; his children, Crystal (Ed), Steven (Jennifer), Lisa (Hugh), Angelia and Tom; his sister, Jeannie; and his brother, Dino. He also leaves behind many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and the many people he welcomed into his life and came to consider family over the years. We take comfort in knowing that his first grandchild, Daniel, will be there to welcome his Papa Tom home.
A special acknowledgment must be given to Donna, who over the years developed a very special father-daughter relationship with Tom, or “Pops,” a name she gave him many years ago that eventually stuck with so many of us. Donna became like a fourth daughter to Dad, and he loved her dearly.
During the last year of Dad’s life, Donna stepped in without hesitation to help care for him. No one had to ask her; she simply saw that Pops needed her and took on that role naturally. She made sure Dad was cared for through the appointments, medical concerns and everything else that came with that final year. The trust Dad had in Donna was something special and something he didn’t share with many people. But what she gave him went far beyond his physical needs. She kept his mind engaged, made him laugh, lifted his spirits and encouraged him to keep fighting for as long as he could. She gave Pops her time, her patience, her love and, most importantly, her presence. What Donna did for Dad during that last year meant more to him, and to our family, than she will ever know.
Respecting Tom’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no service. Arrangements by the Neville Funeral Home, 491 Isabella St., Pembroke. Online Condolences may be left at www.nevillefuneralhome.ca
