Fox

Thomas Harold Fox, 61, of Longboat Key, Fla., formerly of Parker, bravely lost his long battle with heart disease on Monday, Feb. 18.

Tom, the son of Robert Cleveland and Florence Mae Clawson Fox, was born Feb. 1, 1947, in West Freedom, Clarion County.

After graduating from the Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School, he met and married Cheryl Johns of Callensburg, Clarion County.

Tom proudly served his country in the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, he worked for the C&K Coal Co. and was the co-owner of Fox's Hardware in Parker.

In 1986, he moved with his wife and two daughters to Sarasota, Fla. He worked for the Sarasota County Government for 22 years before his failing health required him to retire from his position as a code enforcement officer for the Environmental Services Department in the fall of 2007.

He was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a 32nd Degree Mason.

Survivors include his loving wife of more than 40 years, Cheryl; his daughters, Angela (Marcel) Kasten and Abby (Kyle) Haughey, both of Sarasota; his brothers, Gerald (Janet) Fox of Parker and David (Billie Joe) Fox of West Freedom; and his sisters LaDonna (Robert) McIntyre of Dayton and Cheryl (Andrew) Reedy of Cherry Run.

During his short retirement, Tom enjoyed fishing at his pier on North Longboat Key, collecting coins, growing tomatoes in his earth boxes, playing the slots at the Hard Rock, and watching westerns, football and NASCAR. Appropriately, his last evening was spent watching the 50th running of the Daytona 500. He also was a doting grandfather to his black Labrador grandsons, Bailey Kasten and Gordon Haughey, who will miss their snack-filled visits with their Gramps.

Some of his favorite times were spent visiting his family and friends in Western Pennsylvania, which he often called, "the greatest place on earth." Tom will be remembered by all who knew him as a warm and loving husband, father, father-in-law, brother and friend. His blue eyes and soft smile always showed the love and generosity he shared with all who knew him.

His family would like to express their thanks to the Sarasota Medical community that kept Tom with his loved ones for many years beyond what seemed imaginable and valiantly fought to keep him with us as long as possible.

<B>FOX</B> — The family of Thomas Harold Fox, who died Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Varner's Funeral Home, Sligo, where a service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with his cousin Dan Myers officiating.He planned on adopting several soldiers on www.anysoldier.com, and the family asks that memorial donations are made to those who also proudly serve our country.