Obituary of Thomas P. Whiteside
Thomas P. Whiteside (80) resident of St. Maries, ID passed away at Benewah Community Hospital on January 27, 2024. He was born in Deer Lodge, MT on December 14, 1943. As an infant, Tom went to live with his uncle and aunt Paul and Juanita Whiteside who cared for him and raised him as their own. Over the years he grew up in the states of Washington and California. He graduated in 1962 from Franklin High School in Stockton, CA.
Following high school, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy and married Ethel Lovelace. The couple had two children and were stationed in Hawaii and the Philippines. Tom served over 7 years before he was honorably discharged. He returned to California where he worked various jobs and his marriage to Ethel ended in divorce. He went to work for a carpenter’s union in Stockton and he met Nancy Oberrender. Tom moved to Calder, ID for a job at the mill in the small town. Nancy followed him to Calder with her children in tow, and they married making their home in St. Maries and some of the surrounding smaller communities. When the Calder Mill closed down, Tom went to work for the U.S. Forest Service. He and Nancy divorced, but he remained very close to her children. On August 26, 1992, he married the love of his life Kelly Payne. Tom retired in 2009 from the Forest Service, and sadly Kelly died in 2010.
Tom enjoyed shooting guns and hiking. He loved digging in the dirt and cleared a lot of land over the years. He was a talented welder who loved to build and tinker on anything and everything. He was well known for and will be most remembered by his family for his goof ball stories, dad jokes, and pranks he would play on everyone.
Tom is survived by his children William Whiteside of Florida, Gloria (Greg) Whiteside Hamilton of Parrish, FL, Roger Canty of Plummer, ID, Steven Canty of Hayden, ID, Diane (Brad) Branson of St. Maries, ID, Wendy (Bill) Maryott of Rathdrum, ID, Brian Oberrender of Tieton, WA, Eric Payne, and Leilani (Daylon) Reed of Spokane, WA; 15 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Juanita Whiteside; siblings Charles Whiteside, Thomas Dean, and Julia Liccari; and his wife Kelly Whiteside.
At Tom’s request there will be no services, you may visit his online tribute at hodgefuneralhome.com.
