Thomas John Garrey, 73, of Lake Forest and Geneva died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at his home in Geneva surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Nov. 24, 1938, in Lake Forest, IL, the son of Herbert and Adelaide (nee Eul) Garrey. He was united in marriage to Janet Royal in Decatur, IL in 1962.
Tom attended St. Mary’s Elementary School in Lake Forest and graduating from Lake Forest High School in 1956. He attended Eastern Illinois University, playing baseball his first two years. He graduated from EIU in 1960.
Tom received his masters’ degree from Northern Illinois in 1964. Mr. Garrey taught math one year in Gary, IN, and the next 36 years at Batavia Community High School in Batavia, teaching math and coaching football, baseball, softball and basketball.
Mr. Garrey was inducted into the Illinois High School Coach’s Hall of Fame in football in April 1997. Tom was not only a seasonal coach and teacher, but he was first and foremost a wonderful father and husband to Janet for which they would have celebrated their 50th anniversary Aug. 11.
He enjoyed traveling, camping, golfing, and all sports. A lifelong Cubs fan, Tom was always a part of his community, having been president of PTO at Grace McWayne Elementary School, Cub Scout leader for his boys, Little League coach in Batavia as well as Lake Forest Park District, Lake Forest, IL during his high school and college summers.
Tom started refereeing in basketball in 1961 and continued as a NHS Referee in basketball, baseball, softball, and football.
Tom was proud that his son, Scott, took up refereeing, and they were basketball partners along with Terry Lipscomb of North Aurora and his son, Jeff.
Tom was honored to be selected to referee the high school state championship games in girls’ basketball, high school football, and girls’ high school softball. He completed his 50th year as a referee in 2011.
Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a 51 year old member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia.
He is survived by his wife, Janet, and his children Scott Thomas (Amanda) Garrey, Michelle Lynn (Tom) Lankton, Stephen Michael (Julianne Roy) Garrey and Anne Marie (Kyle) Moore, his nine grandchildren, his brother Herbert J. (Cathy) Garrey, his 3 nieces and 6 nephews, his 3 sister-in-laws Alta Royal, Barbara Royal, and Catherine Garrey, and his two brother-in-laws L. John Royal, and Harlen Fleece.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Joan Fleece. Visitation will be held 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2012, at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 South Batavia Ave., Batavia, IL. Funeral Services will begin from the funeral home at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012, before proceeding to Holy Cross Catholic Church 2300 Main St., Batavia, IL to celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m.
A private Interment will be held in Oak Mound Cemetery in Somonauk, IL.
This notice and photo are courtesy of Moss Family Funeral Homes.
