Thomas Russell Rinehart, 57, of Sweet Home died October 29, 2013 after a brief illness. He was born February 15, 1956 in Moscow, Idaho to Harvey and Joyce (Moffitt) Rinehart. He married Cyndi Conrad June 27, 1980.

His family lived in Idaho and Wisconsin, before moving to Sweet Home in 1962. Tom attended Sweet Home Public Schools, graduating in 1974. He worked at Lester’s Shingle Mill for 25 years as a shingle packer. He later earned a degree in electronics repair and owned and operated TCR Electronics, doing computer and television repair.

Tom enjoyed auto racing, fishing and hunting. He was very close to completing the restoration of the family fishing boat and was looking forward to future fishing trips, when he became sick. Tom was also an avid “N” scale model railroader, having built from scratch an intricate model railroad set, complete with handmade buildings, trees and scenery. Tom was a perfectionist, and if the building project wasn’t up to his specifications, he would start again from scratch.

He enjoyed the yearly family camping and fishing trips. As his children grew up and found jobs, they would schedule their vacation time so the whole family could go camping together each summer. He was also adept at carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, electronics – you name it, he could do it. He truly was a jack of all trades. Tom was proud of his family, and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by: his wife, Cyndi; daughter, Heather, and grandson, Kyle, Porter of Sweet Home; daughter, Kathy and son-in-law, Justice, Gibson of Albany; sons, Robert (and fiancé Nicki Ailshire) Billy and Donald of Albany; son, David of Sweet Home; mother, Joyce Jones of Eugene; and sister, Brenda and husband Dennis Donin of Beaverton; as well as numerous nephews, a great-niece, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father Harvey, in 1986, brother Joe in 1996, and son-in-law Richard Porter in July of 2013.

Tom wanted a small graveside service for family and friends, which will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, November 1, 2013 at Lewis Cemetery. Light snacks will be available at the Holley Christian Church directly after the graveside service. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.