Thomas Evers Mooney

Thomas Evers Mooney was born April 1, 1920, in Akron Ohio. He passed away on Aug. 14, 2009, at the age of 89 years. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Doris Mooney, brother Paul Mooney of Las Vegas, NV, children Coralyn Henson of the Isle of Wight, England, Mark, LeeAnn, and Erin Mooney, of Santa Barbara, CA and grandchildren Dylan Mooney of North Hollywood, CA, and Martha, of London, and Jack Henson of the Isle of Wight, England, as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews. A daughter, Ella Marie, died from Leukemia in 1942.

Tom grew up in and around Akron Ohio, and moved to Southern California at the age of 19, after his first marriage. He worked for Lockheed before enlisting in the Navy at the age of 23 and serving in the South Pacific from 1943 to 1946 during World War II. After leaving the military, he became the Juvenile Police Officer in Ontario CA, where he met his wife Doris Worsham. They were married in 1951. They moved to Twenty Nine Palms, where Tom became Deputy Sheriff, and remained there until 1954, when they moved to Chino CA. He served as a Police Officer in Pomona until 1961.

After visiting the year before, Tom and Doris and their three children settled in Santa Barbara, CA in 1961. They opened a candy store in El Paseo that they operated until 1965. Tom then worked for the Santa Barbara Recreation Department until he injured his back in 1969. After becoming disabled, Tom devoted the second half of his life to writing and becoming a voracious reader. His collection of books numbered in the thousands. He loved to read about poetry and poets, about Eastern religions and philosophical thinking, mysticism and mystics, and, most of all, Ireland. He was able to go to Ireland four times between 1979-1989. He was a published poet, and often participated in poetry readings around town. He became active in social and political concerns. He had a radio show on the UCSB radio station KCSB in the early 1980’s called the Irish Hour (although it was two hours long).

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Santa Barbara, and the wonderful people of Serenity House. As per Tom’s wishes, he will be cremated, and no public service is planned.