Obituary of Thomas George Shamp

Thomas G. Shamp Tom Shamp passed away at home in Vancouver, Washington, during the early morning hours of February 1, 2017 at the age of 71. He had been having medical difficulties. Tom was born as George Thomas Shamp to George Verne and Emily Maxine Shamp in Lincoln, Nebraska on August 24, 1945. Tom is survived by his life mate of 21 years Barbara Farrell, one older brother: Dale (Victoria) Shamp and two younger sisters: Darlene (Billy) Scott and Jackie (Ernie) McCarty; in addition to nieces: Melissa (Alex) Cisneros, Jodi Shamp, Candace (Joshua) Bennett, Tracy (Roy) Conrad and a 1 year old grand-nephew Joshua Bennett Jr. Spouses are listed in parenthesis. Tom went to grade school in The Dalles, Oregon and then moved to Condon, Oregon. Exceling at high school, he was a school photographer and Salutatorian of the 1964 graduating class for Condon High School. In his teen years, Tom was very active and proud of his participation in the Boy Scouts and attained Star Scout rank level. Tom attended the University of Oregon, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and continued specializing in accounting practices through most of his life. Initially he started working for Harold and Betsy Pattee on their ranch in Condon, OR. He credited them with teaching him plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills which he used on his own homes as well as for helping friends and families over the years. He also worked for Highland Machinery in Condon before moving to The Dalles, OR and working for Greenline/John Deere. Tom also worked in the IT Department for the Columbia Aluminum Plant in Goldendale, WA for a time before moving to Portland, OR. Tom resided on a floating home at Jantzen Beach for many years before he and Barbara moved to Vancouver, WA. He remodeled the home as well as added a second bedroom. He took great pride in the work he did on his home and on others in the floating home moorage he lived at. Many friends and relatives sought him out to work on their homes because of his attention to detail and pride in his work. Tom was involved in many activities and sports, most involving water in some way. In his early years and through adulthood he swam, boated and water skied on the Columbia River. Tom owned his own boat and his sister and brother-in-law, Darlene and Billy, purchased a parasail which they shared with friends and family in addition to house-boating on Lake Shasta for many years. He was a lifeguard and certified as a WSI (Water Safety Instructor) Instructor during college. As a scuba diver, he did water recovery services for Wasco County but he much preferred scuba diving for pleasure. He and Barbara took many scuba trips as well as cruises to warm tropical places. Tom also enjoyed white water rafting on the Deschutes River with a lifelong friend, Michael (Norma) Kennedy in the raft they purchased together along with taking other family members and friends down the river. Tom rode dirt bikes for approximately ten years with family and was also an avid snow skier. During the later years, Tom and Barbara traveled the western states with their personal watercraft and have been spending time with their four grandchildren taking trips and camping in their motorhome.