Mr. Joseph Thomas "Tom" Lafferty, resident of the Lakeside Manor Care Home in Saltcoats, SK, passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. He was 96 years of age. Tom was born on March 29, 1921 in Marieval, SK, the son of Joseph and Marie Lafferty. He grew up in the Marieval district before moving to the Saltcoats area in 1939. Tom was united in marriage to Mildred (nee Blake) on December 14, 1946 at St. Andrew's United Church in Yorkton, SK. The couple lived and worked on their farm in the Graham District until their retirement from farming in 1971. As well as operating his own farm, Tom worked for many farmers in the Saltcoats area and also ran a trucking business. He started hauling gravel for the Rural Municipalities and residents of Saltcoats and surrounding area. Tom hauled asphalt for the construction of the Yellowhead Highway #16 from the Manitoba border to Yorkton. During their years on the farm, Tom and Mildred milked cows and would deliver cream every Saturday evening to their customers in the town of Saltcoats. His nieces and nephews have fond memories of Uncle Tom and Aunt Mill treating them to a day at the Yorkton Fair every summer. Tom had a knack for keeping a mental inventory of what parts friends, family members and neighbours might need on their vehicles. He would then find the necessary vehicles to use for parts and strip them. A bit of a wheeler dealer, Tom was known to always find a home for all of the parts he had recovered by bartering with those in need. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Joseph Alexander and Marie Victoria (nee Flamond) Lafferty; his wife, Mildred; his brothers-in-law, Herbert Pierson, Greg Trembley and George Lyons; his sister-in-law, Rhoda (Adolph) Littman and one niece, Shirley (Gerry) Werle. He leaves to mourn his passing, his sisters, Mary "Emily" Pearson of Moose Jaw, SK, Yvette Trembley of Edmonton, AB and Marie "Alice" Lyons of Illinois, USA; good friend, Ralph Henderson; nephews, Larry (Lynn) Littman and their children, Amanda, Robert and Adam (Terrie) and Blake (Elaine) Littman and their children, Bonnie (Jerret), Julie (Darryl), Laura (Curtis) and Sarah; niece, Jean Littman; great-nephews, Kerry (Jennifer) Werle and Blaine Werle as well as many other nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, extended family and countless friends. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, August 5, 2017 from the Saltcoats United Church in Saltcoats, SK with Reverend Walter Farquharson officiating. The organist, Ruth Datema, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Give to Us Laughter" and "For the Fruit of All Creation". The Cremation Committal followed in the Saltcoats Town Cemetery, Saltcoats, SK with Kerry Werle serving as the urn bearer. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
