Tom Greenfeather, 95, of Parsons, passed away at 3 p.m., Sunday, September 23, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons.
He was born on October 25, 1922 at Ramona, Oklahoma to Lewis and Luellen (Kerr) Greenfeather. He grew up at Ramona, White Oak, and Big Cabin, Oklahoma and attended schools there.
He served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945. After he completed basic training at Camp Sibert Alabama, he was assigned to the 187th Chemical Composite Platoon of the Army Service Forces. He served in the European, North African, and China-Burma-India Theaters. He was a life member of the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704 Veterans of Foreign Wars of Parsons.
After he was honorably discharged he worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant for 6 years. He and his brother-in-law established an auto body shop in Vinita, Oklahoma. They built up the business and Tom sold out and moved back to Parsons. He worked at the Independence Dry Cleaners and then the Sally Ann Bakery before leasing a service station at 2701 Main in 1957. In 1959 he leased a new service station at 16th and Main. He remained there until about 1969. He then owned and operated other businesses in Yukon, Broken Arrow, and Wagoner, Oklahoma until selling those business interests in 1971 and bought the Skelly Service Station at 16th and Broadway in Parsons partnering with Danny Brown. In 1977 he sold his interest to Danny Brown and bought into a partnership with his son, Bill, in the D-X Station at 16th and Main. Gas shortages forced the closure of the 16th and Main station in 1979. He then purchased a freight delivery business and operated it until his retirement at age 62 to pursue a life of fishing.
In retirement he used his business skills to start a woodshop in the building behind his house to finance his “fishing habit”. He made and sold all types of woodcrafts in various antique and craft malls in Parsons and Pittsburg. As with all other businesses he was successful and people sought after his creations. He would often work many hours per day to fill orders from as far away as Kansas City. His crafts were sometimes enhanced by the artistic talents of his wife Joann who did scroll painting on many of his projects.
He was an avid fisherman as well as a talented musician. For over 10 years he has been playing his guitar and singing Gospel music for more than 20 times a month with his son Bill and friends in various churches and several institutions over Southeast Kansas.
Tom was proud of his Native American heritage. He was born Shawnee. The band of “Loyal Shawnee” was adopted by the Cherokee Nation. He was currently a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
He and Dorothy Mae Colvin were married at Big Cabin, Oklahoma. They later divorced. He then married Virginia Joan Van Cleave at Miami, Oklahoma. She survives of the home.
In addition to his loving wife, Tom is survived by his son, Bill Greenfeather, of Parsons; his daughter, Marilyn Murnan, and her husband, Larry of Parsons; four grandchildren, Michelle Hinkle of Ft. Worth, TX, Dale Greenfeather of Oklahoma City, OK, Robert Murnan of Pittsburg, and Coy Murnan of Lansing, KS; six great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; his brother, Ron Greenfeather of Tahlequah , OK; his sisters, Jannetta “Mag” Walls of Parsons and Lois Bates of Coffeyville. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kim Kenworthy; two brothers, Gene Greenfeather and Lewis Alfred Greenfeather and a sister; Louise Watkins.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, September 28, 2018 at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home with Pastors Steve Crawford and Vernon Norris officiating. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 Thursday evening. Memorials are suggested to the Free Will Baptist Church and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home 112 N. 26th St. P.O. Box 942 Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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