HARRISBURG, Ore. — Tom Cleary, 69, of Harrisburg, Ore., died Aug. 18, of cancer.

He was born in 1942, to Erlene Storman and grew up in Maine. He married Judy Adams on Oct. 18, 1986 in Anchorage, Alaska, and worked for the Singer Sewing Co. in Anchorage.

He never took life too seriously and found enjoyment in every day life. In the course of life, people have dreams and ideas, but only a handful ever chase after them. He did chase them and lived them.

In 1974, he and his wife drove from Lewiston to Alaska on an amazing 5,000 mile journey, with 1,500  miles of it being a dirt road. He lived in Alaska for many years, enjoying the vast country in many ways, hunting, great photography and tons of fishing. Fish he did. On several occasions, he caught King salmon weighing in at the 50 to 70 pound range.

He will be missed by family and friends and remembered as a man who lived his dreams and enjoyed sharing them with others.

He is survived by wife, Judy Cleary; two sons, Scott Cleary and Steve Cleary; two sisters, Debbie and Tina Bowden; grandson, Jeff Cleary; three stepdaughters, Kelly Leest, Shelly Stuart and Suzanna Fitch; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by mother, Erlene Bowden; and brother, John Cleary.