Thomas Ness, Jr.

Thomas Ness, Jr. passed away peacefully in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 20, 2015.  Born on January 4, 1925 in Dunfermline, Scotland.  He came to the United States as a young child and lived in Sublette, Wyoming.  When he was 6 years old, the family moved to Frontier, Wyoming.  He went to school in Frontier and Kemmerer, and graduated from Kemmerer High School.  Immediately after graduation, he joined the United States Navy, where he served on the USS Iowa in World War II.  He was proud of being on the sister ship, alongside the USS Missouri and witnessed the signing by President Truman, ending WWII.  He returned to Kemmerer, Wyoming, where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Carol Jean Kirkwood.  They married on November 14, 1953.  Together, they had four children, James David, Brenda Louise, Mary Coleen and Thomas Arthur.  After his honorable discharge, he worked at the Kemmerer Bakery, where he was famous for his French Bread.  Together with Carol, they purchased the Kemmerer Bakery in 1972.  After selling the bakery, he went to work for UP&L, until his retirement.  Tom was an avid fisherman and hunter.  He loved to go sage chicken hunting with his son, Tom.  Some of the best years of his life were spent camping with his wife, Carol, in the Hoback, where they met lifelong friends, creating memories with their children and grandchildren.  Two of his greatest sporting passions were the Wyoming Cowboys and the St. Louis Cardinals.  He attended as many Wyoming Cowboy games as he could.  One of his favorite pastimes was playing cribbage.  He taught all of his children and grandchildren to play and still enjoyed playing every time someone was up for a game.  He seldom lost.  He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Thomas Ness, Sr., and Mary Milne; his infant son, James David; and two sisters, Bella and Beatrice.  He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carol Jean (Kirkwood) Ness; his brother Walter (Elaine) Ness; his children, Brenda (Larry) Rupnow, Coleen (Steve) Schoen, Tom (Jenny) Ness; his nine grandchildren, William (Stacy) Thoman, James (Jewly) Thoman, Jeremy (Karen) Schoen, Tyson Ness, Kyle Schoen, Amber Ness, Eric Schoen, Rebecca Rupnow and Joshua Ness; five great-grandchildren, Lauren Thoman, Preston Thoman, Sophie Thoman, Sam Thoman and Kensi Schoen; sister-in-law, Mickey Fagnant; and an abundance of nieces and nephews.  Memorial services were held at the Catholic Church in Kemmerer, Wyoming, on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 9:00 A.M.  Burial was held at the Kemmerer Cemetery on May 26, 2015, at 10:00 A.M.  Contributions may be made to the Senior Center in Kemmerer, Wyoming or a charity of your choice.