Tom Templeton, 31

Tom Paul Templeton, 31, Kalispell, Mont., died April 25, 2013, surrounded by his family.

He was born Aug. 30, 1981 in Atlantic, the son of Thomas M. Templeton and Peggy L. Templeton, both previously of Red Oak. Tommy moved to Kalispell when he was two years old. He graduated from Flathead High School in 2001 and worked at Wild Geese Gardens greenhouses up until the time of his illness. While in Portland for treatment, he attended Portland Community College.

He was diagnosed in 2010 with Fanconi Anemia and battled valiantly for three long years against various cancers resulting from the FA.

Tommy loved his family dearly, especially his nieces and nephews; he always enjoyed a good pair of shoes, a comfortable flannel shirt, his music and his loyal Pug, Tank. Tom never failed to bring a smile to people’s faces and always had a good one-liner up his sleeve. He loved his friends like brothers and would immediately give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.

Tommy is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, William Templeton and Jean Kerr; maternal grandmother, Erline Haroff; and his father, Thomas M. Templeton.

He is survived by his mother, Peggy L. Templeton; a grandfather, Louis Farrington; two sisters, Shellie Hodges and husband, Mel, whom he considered a third brother, of Kalispell, and Ann Jones and husband Mike of Griswold; two brothers, Walker Templeton and wife Libba of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Billy Templeton and wife Brooke of Bozeman, Mont.; nieces and nephews, Stephanie Dunlap and husband Jake, Stacia Hodges, Lincoln Templeton, Emerson Templeton; a great-nephew, Brody Dunlap. Tom was also greatly anticipating the arrival of nephew Boone Thomas Templeton.

A service was Saturday, April 27 at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell with interment at Conrad Memorial Cemetary. Donations are suggested to the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund at www.fanconi.org.