Thomas Ambrose O'Halloran , 91

Dr. Tom O'Halloran died peacefully in Polson, with his family all around him, on Nov. 11, 2008.

Tom was born Feb. 14, 1917, to Michael and Delia O'Halloran in Creggs, County Galway, Ireland.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Monsignor Colman, Anthony and Frank.

He is survived by his brothers, Father Alfred O'Halloran of Galway, and Dr. Albert O'Halloran and his wife, Patricia, of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; and his sisters, Bella Glynn and Imelda O'Halloran of Galway.

Tom received his schooling in Galway and as a young man, rowed on the Irish rowing team that took the National Championship.

He received his medical degree from the National University of Ireland in 1945 and, after completing his internship in Nottingham, he entered the Royal Navy as a surgeon lieutenant. He served in Malta, Great Yarmouth and Cornwall, England. After resigning from the Navy, Tom completed an internship in gynecology and obstetrics in Ipswich and a year of general practice in Kent.

Tom married the love of his life, Madeleine Harris, in Great Yarmouth in 1953. Shortly thereafter they emigrated to Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, living there for seven years. The couple then emigrated to Plains, living and practicing there for three years before moving to Polson, where Tom was a general practitioner until he retired in 1989. Tom loved working at Grandview Clinic and St. Joseph Hospital just as much as he was loved by his colleagues and staff.

Although the community knew Tom as the family doctor who delivered more than one generation of many families in the Mission Valley, he is also known by many for the Connemara ponies he imported and trained. A few will remember that he raised and trained hunting dogs and fewer still will remember that in his youth, unbeknownst to his parents, he kept a ferret hidden in the house, to take out to hunt and capture rabbits.

In his retirement, Tom had been writing stories of Ireland and sharing his political views with his wonderful wit and charm. He had not played his golf for a few years but had been free with his commentary from the deck of his house.

Tom is survived by his wife, Madeleine; his sons Michael and Dermot of Polson, and Sean of Missoula; his daughters Maura O'Halloran of Kalispell, Claire and her husband Charlie Harball of Kalispell and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah, Melanie and her husband Rick Agrella of Spokane and their two daughters Casidhe and Erica, Beth and her husband Dave McAlpin of Missoula and their daughter Greta and son Ian, and Fiona and her husband Pat Harris of Salt Lake City and their daughters Madeleine and Annie; as well as many nieces and nephews throughout the States and Ireland.

A rosary will be said for Tom in Polson at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, and a Resurrection Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, both at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.groganfuneralhome.com.