Thomas Pardee Renfro OBITUARY

Thomas Pardee Renfro OBITUARY

Thomas Pardee Renfro 1938-2025 Thomas Pardee Renfro was born in Kelseyville, California on May 30, 1938 to Glen and Janet Renfro. Tom passed on June 28, 2025 at his home in Kelseyville. Tom is now reunited with the love of his life, Mary. Also with his mom, dad, and brother, Jim. As a child Tom spent carefree days hiking Mt. Konocti, fishing in Clear Lake and the local creeks and streams. Tom lived for a short while in Tule Lake during World War II, but returned to Lake County when the war ended. He attended school in Lakeport from kindergarten to senior year. While riding the bus to school in second grade he met his future wife, Mary Dimauro. His love for hunting and fishing started in his youth and grew stronger the rest of his life. Tom’s first job at the age of thirteen was driving tractor for Frank Dimauro. At sixteen he was driving trucks to Oakland for Frank hauling safflower. Tom was a standout athlete at Clear Lake High School, after their undefeated 1956 football league championship he was one of four players from Lake County to be on the team that played in the Redwood Shrine All-Star Game. This gave the Lake County boys and South one more big win over North. Tom enlisted in the Army Reserves while still in high school, and shortly after graduation headed to Fort Ord for training, followed by eight more years at Camp Roberts. Tom earned a gunsmith technology degree at Oregon Tech in 1961. He had started hunting with his dad before he could even hold a gun, so this was a field of study he enjoyed. Tom worked for PG&E for 34 years but used his gunsmith skills his entire life. Tom married the love of his life, Mary Dimauro, in 1958. They had four children, Tamara Ann, Jamie Elizabeth, Tonette Teresa, and Thomas Glen. Tom and his family moved to the family ranch in Kelseyville in 1970 where he built his home on the land that had been in his family for generations. Tom enjoyed raising cattle and planted very productive pear, peach, and apple orchards on this property. He had a ranch filled with horses, goats, turkeys, chickens, dogs, cats, some critters and fowl we will not mention. Tom was a California Farm Bureau member for many years and a 4-H member and leader. He spent many weekends hauling horses to high school rodeos for his daughters. He enjoyed shooting at the Rod and Gun Club with his son. He added the Renfro Animal Inn dog kennel in the mid 1980’s and later added a merlot vineyard to the ranch. The kennel was very successful but closed when Mary passed in 2015. The vineyard is beautiful and productive to this day. Tom and Mary enjoyed many trips together. However their hearts were happiest with their family at their beautiful home they proudly built together from the ground up. Tom enjoyed countless hunting trips to Idaho with his family, a tradition that lives on today. Tom loved taking his children and grandchildren hunting and fishing. Tom was a true outdoorsman and could spend hours reminiscing with friends and family of past hunting and fishing trips. Tom is survived by his four children, Tammy Renfro-Myers, Jamie Patten, Toni Brown, Thomas Renfro; nine grandchildren, Kyle Sills, Michael Thomas Brown, Kirk Sills, Joe Myers, Kelsey Robinson, Allyson Luis, Mary Frantz, Madison Renfro, Meghan Renfro; and twelve great-grandchildren. Tom was a wonderful son, brother, husband, dad, uncle, grandpa, great-grandpa, and friend. His passing is the end of a phenomenal era. Tom will be remembered, celebrated and missed by many. The family will have a private gathering. Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary (707)263-0357 or 994-5611 or visit: chapelofthelakes.com