CARMODY, THOMAS J., JR.

Thomas Joseph Carmody, Jr., 75 years, born November 18, 1921 and died May 28, 1997 at Zale Lipshy University Hospital. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and his family moved to Dallas a couple of months after his birth. He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Joseph Carmody, Sr. and Mary Louise Connelly Carmody, and one sister, Elizabeth Carmody Tutton. Tom is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anna Sidor Carmody, and two sons, Thomas Joseph Carmody, III, and John Michael Carmody and his wife, Anna Moree Carmody, all of Dallas. He is also survived by two sisters, Constance Carmody Halfpap of Fulton, Maryland, and Caroline Carmody White of Dallas and many nieces and nephews. His extended family by marriage includes Veniece Sidor Stewart and her husband Johnnie D. Stewart, of Austin, Texas, and Alice Sidor of Denton, Texas, and nieces and nephews. Tom attended elementary school at Ben Milam and Sacred Heart, and was graduated from North Dallas High School in January, 1940. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on December 27, 1941, and served until being honorably discharged on June 28, 1946. While in the South Pacific, he made five landings with the Marine Raiders, and the 4th Marine Regiment of the 6th Marine Division. He took part in the landings made at Emirau, Guam, two landings at Okinawa, and was with the first troops to land in Japan. He received two Purple Hearts during combat on Okinawa. He was from Guadalcanal to Japan. Tom has always said that the Marine Raiders he served with are considered his family, as there was great love and respect for one another. On August 30, 1947, he was married to Anna Sidor, and they have resided in Dallas all these years. In January, 1950, he attended Southern Methodist University and majored in Accounting. He was a member of Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Beta, Alpha, Psi Fraternity. He received his B.B.A. with honors from S.M.U. in January, 1953. He taught accounting for two years at S.M.U.’s Dallas College. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1954. His accounting career began September, 1952, and he was at first in a two-man partnership, and then was a sole practitioner for 23 years until retiring on December 31, 1992. Tom was a member of the Dallas Chapter of C.P.A.s, and the American Insitute of C.P.A.s. He was also a 39-year member of the Petroleum Accountants Society of Dallas. He was a 25-year member of the Optimist Clubs in Dallas, and was City Director of the Dallas area Soap Box Derby in 1962. Tom helped form the Dallas County Detachment of the Marine Corps League in 1964. He joined the U.S. Marine Raider Association in 1954, and has attended their reunions each year since 1990. He was a lifetime member of the U.S. Marine Raider Association, and at the time of his death was helping a fellow Marine historian to compile a roster of the 8,000 Raiders, including rank and serial numbers, and where they were killed in action or wounded, etc. He was also a lifetime member of the Marine Corps Association; the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines Association; 6th Marine Division Association and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He was also a member of the Metroplex Marine Association and the Big “D” Chapter of the Marine Corps League; and a member of the Leatherneck Club of the Greater Nevada Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Tom and his wife, Anna have been members of Saint Monica Catholic Church. Tom had an outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. He was dearly loved by his family and many friends, and he will be greatly missed. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. Friday at Sparkman-Hillcrest Northwest Hwy. Chapel. Afterwards the family will receive friends from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Monica Catholic Church, Walnut Hill Lane at Midway Road. Msgr. John F. Meyers, celebrant. Entombment will follow at Calvary Hill Mausoleum. Pallbearers are Johnnie D. Stewart, George Halfpap, Craig W. Headlee, James T. Edwards, Charles K. Cope and Tom Manchester. Honorary pallbearers are C. Lee Connell, Herman D. Johnston, Ed (Doc) Strohmeier (Frankfort, KY), Allen (Doc) Savage (Bard, CA), L. L. (Buck) Daley (Scottsbluff, NE), Joe Bibby, and all members of the United States Marine Raider Association. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association.