Thomas 'Tommy' Gordon Valley, 66

Thomas “Tommy” Gordon Valley, 66, of Pinehurst, Idaho, passed away on Nov. 3, 2018. He is survived by his sister, Joanne Hedge of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; his three children, Jenny (Keith) Ketola of Columbus, Mont., Josh (Holly) Valley of Spokane, Wash. and Justin (Amber) Valley of Osburn, Idaho; nine grandchildren, Brock, Skyler, Seth, Kali, Riley, Mason, Danica, Alana, Korbin and Gordon; three nieces, Laura Kees (Hedge), Teresa McCullough (Hedge) and Angie Lion (McCumber) and two nephews, Scott Hedge and Andrew Valley; along with many great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2018, at the Albis Steakhouse and Gem Bar, in Wallace, Idaho.

Tommy was born on Aug. 5, 1952, in Moscow, Idaho to Gordon Valley and Berniece (Perry) Johnson. He graduated from Post Falls High School and later obtained his associate’s degree from North Idaho College drafting program.

Shortly after graduating high school, Tommy enlisted in the US Army, serving in Vietnam as a helicopter repairman from 1969 to 1972. He later began his career in the mining industry at Sunshine Mining Company, where he worked as a hard rock miner until his accident in 1981. After healing from that he pursued a new career path as a draftsman at Sunshine Mining until his retirement.

Tommy enjoyed fishing, canoeing and, without needing to be said, riding his Harleys. He was one of the founding fathers of “The Procrastinators,” a Harley Davidson riding group that he loved and cherished.

As a young child, he enjoyed spending his summers with family members in different towns, which taught him how to “meet and fit in with other people which is probably what made me so cool!”

He definitely left his mark wherever he went and will be missed by all of those who knew and loved him. He was truly one of a kind.

“There is a race of men that don’t fit in. A race that can’t stay still. So they break the hearts of kith and kin and they roam the world at will.

I have clinched and closed with the naked north. I have learned to defy and defend. Shoulder to shoulder we have fought it out. Yet the wild must win in the end.” Robert W. Service