James Alexander Craig Thom

James Alexander Thom was born in 1933, the son of Dr. Jay W. and Dr. Julia S. Thom of Gosport. He will be remembered by many as the Mark Twain of Owen County, Indiana. Jim was far too humble, and honored Twain far too highly to claim that title when addressed as such, but all those who knew him well will testify to his brilliant wit, his puns, and his excellent writing, including historical novels, many of which focused on the lives of the midwest indigenous tribes. He was a writer’s writer, an artist in wood and ink, but more than that, he was a multi-faceted man who, with his loving wife, Dark Rain Thom, discovered what it means to be a human being and walk sacredly upon the earth. He died in his self-built cabin, constructed of old hand-hewn logs, on the land he loved. The cabin stands as a testament to Jim’s artful appreciation of labor, balance, and living in harmony with the earth. Jim was truly a Renaissance man, blending many talents into a life of beauty and wisdom. The patience and pursuit of perfection so evident in his woodworking was perhaps even more beautifully expressed in his wordsmithing. Great writers do not accept the false maxim that any word will do. Rather they seek the right word. As a woodworker strives to allow the grain of the wood to shine, so does a wordsmith strive to follow the grain of a thought to its perfect expression. Never satisfied with slipshod construction, he sought the perfect conveyance of thought to the reader, so much so that one walks stealthily with Mary Engles in Follow the River on her trek through the forest along the Ohio, or bravely fights with Tecumseh along the Maumee in Panther in the Sky. You simply can’t pick up a book of Jim’s authorship that is not well worth the reading. Jim was a U.S. Marine veteran having served in the Korean War, after which he became a committed peacemaker and outspoken critic of Presidents who pursued war. His letters to the Herald Times during the Iraq Wars of both Bushes and the chaos of the Trump years were satirical gems of the highest order. In addition to writing in times of war, he found a source of solace in the sculpting of wood into expressions of serenity. If there is a special watering hole for writers and artists in the afterlife, Jim is sipping scotch (Laphroaig) with Kurt Vonnegut and Howard Zinn, fellow veterans-turned-peacemakers with whom he shared close friendships. In his final days on earth, he was supported by a group of neighbors, friends, and relatives who loved him dearly, and by Dark Rain Thom, the woman he loved and credited for his writing so well and living so long. She and his niece, Cinda, were at his side as he took his last breath, as was his friend and minister, Bill Breeden. Our world was made more beautiful by Jim Thom’s presence. His journey to the other side camp was blessed by the singing of the tribal women of the Shawnee, a people he loved, and by whom he was known as “Sunset Watcher.” The beautiful body that housed his spirit lay on the deck of his cabin in a coffin made by Trappist monks. He was visited by family, friends, squirrels, birds by day, and raccoons by night. His final departure from home was in the back of a ’96 Ford F250 pickup followed by a procession of cars. In keeping with his wishes, cremation rights were accorded at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory with Dark Rain, family and friends in attendance. In addition to his parents Jim was preceded in death by his sister Julia, brothers John and Bob, and niece Julia. Jim is survived by his wife Dark Rain Thom, nieces Julie Clemons Brault, Pamela Clemons Gutierrez, Cinda Clemons Farkas; nephews Thor Clemons, Alen Clemons, and Jeff Thom. Shawnee daughters: Laurie Hiltibran (Manukimae-“Spring”) and Laurel Jay (Maticia-“Speaks with Trees”). Special Shawnee Friends: Desawin Ballard, Many Horses, Stands Between Joe DiMaggio, Yahma “Butch” Shepherd. Special friends: Sam, Carol, and Lori Clark, Dick Cady, Wendell Berry, Dennis Neary, Ken Carstens, Charlotte Zeitlow, Bill and Glenda Breeden, Robert Meitus and Carrie Newcomer, “Strats” Stratigos, Paul and Jackie Stogsdill family, Sara and Tim Couch, Bridgette and Charlie Savage, Scott Sanders, Patty Hon, Jaime Sweany, Jenny Stankiewicz, Anna Marie, John Sugden, Linda Chapman, Steve May, Lane Booker Mike Leonard, Dennis Reardon, Dan Carpenter, George Saunders, Bob Hammel and many others. He is also survived by his writing, an enduring gift for generations to come. A celebration of the life of James Alexander Thom will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, IN on his 90th birthdate, May 28, 2023. Details will be announced at a later date. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory have been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

Tributes

James Alexander Craig Thom

May 26, 1933 - January 30, 2023