Obituary: Thomas George Meaney, 78, White Salmon

Thomas George Meaney

Tom Meaney, 78, of White Salmon, Washington was the eldest of Ruth and Edward Meaney’s three sons.

Tom grew up in Portland, Oregon. He attended All Saints Elementary and Jesuit High School. He graduated from Wilson High School in 1963.

Immediately after high school graduation, Tom joined the Marine Corps as his father had done before him. He thought since the base was at Camp Pendleton, he would be able to go surfing. Unfortunately, he didn’t learn to surf. Instead, he did two tours of duty to Southeast Asia, serving in Vietnam. He remembered these days in Vietnam every day for the rest of his life.

After an honorable discharge from the Marines, Tom enrolled at Portland State University as a political science major, and, at about the same time, he opened Tom’s Rugs, an Oriental rug store in Sellwood.

After a few years in the rug business, he sold the store to a friend, became a part-time house painter, and joined Mt. Park Racquet Club. The tennis club became his second home for the next twenty-five years. Tom was a natural athlete. He played tennis, racquetball and squash and was always available for a cocktail after a match. 

He met Rae Carey while playing tennis at Mt. Park. They married in 1990 and in 2000 they moved to White Salmon. During these years he enjoyed many holidays in Hawaii where he, finally, went surfing. 

Tom will be remembered for how much he enjoyed talking to people and for the unlimited number of stories he had to tell. He was kind and generous, and he loved animals, especially all of the wildlife that visited his house in the country.

Tom died soon after being diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Ed Meaney. He is survived by Rae Meaney, brother Phil Meaney, sisters-in-law Liz and Chris Meaney, his cousins Charles, Delores, John, and Mary-Kay, and a few life-long friends.  

There will be a burial service at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon November 2nd, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. 

Memorial donations may be made to Rowena Wildlife Clinic 6900 Highway 30WThe Dalles, OR 97058 (rowenawildlifeclinic.org)