Funeral services for Tom Gaynor to be held Sat., Feb. 18 at St. James Cathedral in Vancouver
The family of long-time area businessman Tom Gaynor has announced his recent death and plans to honor the beloved Clark County icon at a funeral service Saturday, Feb. 18 in Vancouver.
The service will begin at 11 a.m. Feb. 18 at St. James Cathedral, located at 218 W. 12th St. in Vancouver. A reception will follow at the AC Hotel on the Vancouver Waterfront, located at 333 West Columbia Way.
“It is with great sadness that my brother John and I have to announce the passing of our father, Tom Gaynor,’’ read a post on the Facebook page of son Tommy Gaynor.
Tom Gaynor was 72 at the time of his death. His family rejoiced in the fact that he lived a very full and active life.
Tom was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1950. After graduating automotive tech school, at the age of 18, he and a best friend moved west to Denver, Colorado. After the taste of drag racing got him excited, Tom and the same friend moved to the heart of drag racing in Los Angeles, California.
It was in Los Angeles that Tom met the love of his life, Holly, who was in Los Angeles with her family, supporting her uncle – professional racer Harrell Dean Amyx. After Harrell’s untimely death, Holly’s family moved back home to Boise and Tom followed.
On Dec. 3, 1974, Tom and Holly were married, starting their family life together. Over the next 48 years, Tom and Holly raised their two sons Tommy and John. They owned and operated a successful chain of automotive repair shops – Gaynor’s Automotive. Tom continued to drag race all over the country.
“Tom never knew a stranger and was always known to be the first guy to pick up a tab or buy a friend a drink,’’ read son Tommy’s Facebook announcement. “Tom loved to make people smile. He loved to travel and would follow the sun between his three homes in Battle Ground, Mesa and Lake Mayfield in Washington.’’
Tom was preceded in death by his wife Holly Gaynor, his parents Thomas Joseph Gaynor II and Dorothy Pesko. He is survived by sons Tommy Gaynor (wife Megan Gaynor) and John Gaynor (wife Julie Gaynor) and grandchildren Lauren, Ty, Rylie and Johnny.
In lieu of flowers, the Gaynor family asks friends and others to please consider a donation to Racers for Christ, a group that was close to Tom’s heart. Racers for Christ brings church services and support to racetracks all over the United States.
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