Thomas Sheehan

Maggie Valley - Thomas Joseph "Tom" Sheehan, age 69, of 878 Dogwood Drive, died on Friday, January 11, 2008 at Duke University Hospital in Durham. Tom was the son of the late Maurice Joseph and Eileen McCarthy Sheehan and was very proud of his Irish heritage. He was a native and resident of Washington, DC. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Catherine Wilkins. Tom was a graduate of UNC Charlotte, receiving a BS Degree in Accounting and was the owner of Thomas J. Sheehan Accounting in Waynesville for over 30 years. He was a US Army veteran and enjoyed traveling. He received great joy in working with the children at Crossnore School Inc. and had a special love for his entire family. Tom was a member of First Baptist Church of Waynesville and attended First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. After being diagnosed in October 2005 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Tom received a double lung transplant and double heart valve replacement in February 2007. Being determined to live, he fought a long and courageous battle never giving up. The family would like to acknowledge the compassionate care given to Tom through the Duke University Hospital Transplant Team, floor staff of 3200, 8200 and especially 7800, Dr. Karim Tadlaoui and Dr. Jerry Eu, Dr. Galanos and the Palliative Care Team. Not only were they a medical team, they were family to Tom and Beverly. Without those loving people, this journey would have been more difficult. With all of this support from their family, hospital family, and friends, Tom's death was made more peaceful. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Beverly Franklin Sheehan; two sons, Michael Joseph Sheehan and his wife, Regina, of Waynesville and Lowell Graydon Beckner, Jr. and his wife, Helen, of Savannah, GA; one daughter, Leah Beckner Crisp and her husband, Van, of Sylva; two sisters, Eileen Marletta and her husband, Philip, of Seaford, DE and Kathleen Gioffre and her husband, Joseph, of Lusby, MD; eight grandchildren, Isaac Wayne and Shaya Violet Sheehan, Daniel Graydon Beckner, Heather Beckner Tweedle, Jesse W. DeClue, Heather Ann Sanders, Vanessa S. Crisp, and Elizabeth Leah Haynes; two great grandchildren; and special friends, Jay Ring and his wife, Betty Tulou and also the mother of his son, Michael, Shirley Bullard Sheehan. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville with Reverend W. Lyn Sorrells and Reverend Kathleen Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post 5202 and American Legion Post 47. In the true Irish tradition, a celebration of Tom's life will be held at his residence following the interment. All family and friends are invited. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made the Lung Transplant Program of Duke University Hospital, Dr. Scott Palmer, DUMC 3876, Durham, NC 27710 or to Crossnore School, Inc., P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, NC 28616-0249.

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