Thomas H. Shriver, age 81, of Mora died September 11, 2020 at St. Claire Living Community in Mora. A private graveside service will be held at Milburn Cemetery in Pine City.
I have fond memories of life in our big family in West Virginia. My brother Tom was the oldest of our family’s 8 children. Our parents, Herold and Gatha Lea Shriver, were loving parents. Dad worked in the coal mines, and Mom was a full time homemaker, very busy feeding and clothing the family, and helping with our education.
Tom worked hard alongside the family as a youngster, helping with gardening, taking care of the animals, helping dad with repair projects, etc., in addition to his education. When we lived at Itmann, West Virginia, there were now 6 children and Tom was around 14 or 15. We had a cow but had no land of our own as we lived in town. Our dad kept the cow at a friend’s place several miles away. Tom rode his bike to milk the cow once a day every day, carrying the milk home on his bike, and dad did the other milking each day in addition to his job in the coal mines. Within a year or so our parents bought a hillside home with 6 acres and a small barn where we could keep a cow or two, and raise chickens and a large garden. Tom continued to help with milking, etc.
Tom had multiple health problems as an adult, but he never complained. Tom never married. In 1968 our dad died of complications of black lung disease. In 1975 our mom married a very sweet gentleman in Minnesota, Ralph Williams. Tom moved to Minnesota to be close to Mom. Tom spent the last 25 years at the Villa Care Center in Mora. After Mom moved away from the farm I offered to move Tom closer to me to make it easier to visit more often. Tom said, “I love this house.” So of course he stayed at The Villa and I think it was a good choice. They have very kind staff and were good to him.
We look forward to the time when Tom will be raised from the grave, completely healed, in a happier time. May God speed that day.