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Thomas Jay Meyers, 72, died peacefully on Sunday May 24 at 12:12pm at Blanchard Valley Hospital Hospice Unit after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer. Tom was born in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania on November 25, 1947 to Donald Jay and Elizabeth "Betty" (Dwire) Meyers who preceded him in death.
Working as a bank consultant for Diamond Savings and Loan in Findlay, Ohio he met and married his best friend, Florence/Kelly G (Kitzler) Hayes on May 16, 1987 and celebrated 33 years of marriage this year. Kelly survives along with children David Scott Hayes and his wife Nicole of Toledo, Ohio; Christopher Lee Hayes of Findlay, Ohio; and Melissa Lynn (Hayes) Yakovich and her husband Adam of Columbus, Ohio. Also surviving are grandchildren Alex Hayes of Chicago, IL; Elliott Hayes of Toledo, OH; and Layna and Maycie Yakovich of Columbus, OH. Tom loved and cherished his children and grandchildren, always eager to show their pictures and brag about their accomplishments whenever the opportunity arose. He felt incredibly blessed and proud to be their father and grandfather, and they returned his feelings.
Also surviving is Tom's brother, Frederick Meyers with wife Sharon, as well as nephew Stephen Meyers with wife Diana, and grandniece Gabriella all of Meyersdale, PA. Nephew Nathan Meyers preceded Tom in death.
Tom graduated from Meyersdale High School where he ran track, and played in the band, jokingly boasting of being the #1 Tuba player at Meyersdale's High School. He later graduated from Grove City College in Grove City, PA with a degree in business and economics. While at Grove City, he was a member of Phi Tau Alpha fraternity and a well-respected trainer for the college's basketball and soccer teams. During summers, he enjoyed lifeguarding at Maple City Park and managing the pool and grounds. He also did road construction and maintenance for the state of PA.
After graduating from Grove City College he worked in the banking industry and served as the Operations Manager for the National Bank of Western, Pennsylvania; Vice President of Operations for Diamond Savings and Loan in Findlay, Ohio; First Vice President of Commercial Banking for Bank One in Lima, Ohio where he was responsible for commercial client service markets and treasury management; and then he was a Senior Vice President for Chase Bank in Columbus, OH.
After retiring from banking, Tom was a transportation driver for HATS and then worked for the HHWP Community Action Commission as the Small Business Development Manager teaching classes for entrepreneurial small business startups. He was proud of the number of successful businesses that were started from the participants in his classes and enjoyed seeing their dreams of owning their own businesses become a reality.
Tom was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Meyersdale Lodge No, 554 in Meyersdale, PA. He belonged to the Elks Lodges in both Findlay, OH and Meyersdale, PA. He also served on the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and the board for the Black Swamp Area Boy Scout Council.
Tom was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, loved Penn State under Joe Peterno, and The Ohio State Buckeyes. He loved watching golf, never missing a match with Tiger Woods competing, and enjoyed playing the game occasionally. Tom was a motor vehicle enthusiast, enjoying long rides in his convertible Thunderbird and on his motorcycle. He loved Indycar and Formula One racing. Tom never stopped learning. He enjoyed documentaries and loved visiting museums when travelling. He had a vast interest in history, with a special interest in WWII and the airforce. He loved airplanes and trains, had an extensive model train collection, loved technology (always buying the newest gadget, TV or stereo), jamming out to classic rock, and 'toasting the good times' with a glass of single barrel Jack Daniels. His favorite destination was Hilton Head Island, where he and his family would vacation yearly, and where his ashes will be spread.
On his 72nd birthday friends and family members were asked to write in one word how they would describe Tom: optimistic, kind, generous, intelligent, inquisitive, brave, humorous, brilliant, caring, dependable, inspired, dedicated, resilient, father, determined, passionate and good is how Tom will be remembered.
Friends and family may visit on Friday, May 29, 2020 from 12 – 2 p.m. at HUFFORD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 1500 Manor Hill Rd, Findlay (419-422-1500). A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Jim Klausing officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Tom’s honor may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or Bridge Home Health and Hospice of Findlay.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas J Meyers, please visit our floral store.
Bridge Home Health & Hospice
15100 Birchaven Lane, Findlay OH 45840
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Web: https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/cincinnati