Death of Tom Spry Snr

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 26, 19 November 1985, Page 15

Death of Tom Spry Snr

Tom Spry, one of the Waimarino 's great sportsmen and a long-time resident of the area, died in Ohakune last week. Tom's early life was spent at Karioi where his parents, Tom seniorand 'Mum Spry' leased a farm. There he began his sporting activities and was in the Karioi football team for many years. In 1 926 he married Myrtle Mahe, now of Raetihi, and they moved to Erua where Tom worked at the local mill, and later to Binwoodies Siding, near the Raurimu Spiral. Myrtle remembers Tom trained for athletics by timing himself running across the railway bridge over the spiral, and up the steep road back home again. Their eldest daughter, Dawn Donaldson, now of Pipiriki, was born there. The Sprys then moved, back to Karioi where Tom went rabbiting and later worked in the timber industry. A third daughter, Zelma, and Tommy, the first son, were born there. During the war Tom joined the Karioi Home

Guard and trained under Douglas Strachan and did other war work. Tom had a great deal to do with rugby and was an invaluable player in both the Ruapehu College reps and the King Country team. A guard of honour was formed by his football mates at the Lakes Road cemetery where he was buried. When the time came to give up rugby he played golf and bowls, both of which he was good at.

In the 1950s the Sprys moved to Ohakune where they bought a house, and Tom worked in the Public Works. Later he and his brother John bought a truck and went into business selling maire wood. While in Ohakune, another three children were born, Patricia Mcllroy, and Raymond Spry of Ohakune, and Bethney Jane of Raetihi. In later years Tom lived with Reg and Marge Jenkins, and suffered severely with emphysema and asthma. "He never complained throughout all his suffering," said Mrs Jenkins. "He was a happy, kind person and very good-natured." He worked in hotels, and for a time in the Sergeants Mess at Army Training Group, Waiouru, where he claimed to be an 'eye specialist\ He took the eyes out of potatoes! Tom enjoyed meeting friends at the Ohakune Club and had a special seat near the door where he could get

fresh air, said Mrs Spry. Tom had been in Waimarino Hospital since August, but returned home the day before he died because he wanted very much to be there. He died on Sunday 10 November, aged 68.