Thomas L. McVetty

DALTON - Thomas Lindsey McVetty was born on June 15th, 1953, in Lancaster, NH to Beverly Mae Smith and George Irving McVetty Jr. He was the second of three children. Tom lived his entire life in Dalton, NH. As a child he attended Dalton Elementary School. He graduated from White Mountains Regional High School in the class of 1971. Upon graduation he enlisted in the New Hampshire Army National Guard where he served for nine years. In parallel to his enlistment after high school he immediately entered the workforce. On December 9, 1973, Tom married Nancy Wright of Lancaster and the couple spent the next 50 years committed to building and fulfilling their life together. Tom was the fixer of all things. He worked in the automotive industry his entire working career, first as an auto technician. He moved on to be the service manager for Whitney Motors, Robert’s Motors, and Currier Motors. Tom was well respected by his customers and earned many national awards for the Top Service Manager for his division. In the latter part of Tom’s career, he went back to his roots as an Auto Technician and spent many years working for Kenny Hodgdon at State Line Auto Repair in Guildhall and Team O’Neil Rally School in Dalton. Tom was a member of the Dalton Volunteer Fire Department for 45 years (15 years longer than his wife or two sons thought was necessary to be running into burning buildings). Service to one’s community is something Tom took very seriously; he was selflessly committed to his small town and the people in it. For many years he was an active member of the Dalton Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club and spent many hours building new trails and bridges, on trail maintenance; grooming the trails during the winter and clearing them in the fall. Tom’s sons, Chris and Eric joined him in this work for many years throughout their childhood and teen years and have many fond memories of these times. In 1988, Tom and Nancy built their dream log home on family farmland on Union Road with 5 year and 2-year-old boys in tow; along with the help of many friends and family. In the 35 years since, their home has been a place full of countless family memories and gatherings; every holiday, Sunday family dinners, love, and laughter. Tom loved his land. He was at his happiest spending time working on the land; cutting firewood, deer hunting (his absolute passion in life), food plot building, field mowing, trail building, snowmobiling, maple sugaring, fishing, and the list goes on. He shared these passions (minus the firewood part) with Nancy, Chris, and Eric. Tom and Nancy together instilled a strong sense of passion, dedication, and work ethic into their two sons’…. which Chris and Eric have carried with them to this day. Tom and Nancy also enjoyed time together out on the groomer, in the fishing boat, camping, and just being together walking and exploring the fields and forest surrounding their home. In the later years of his life, one of the great joys Tom had was watching his grandchildren be born and raised and sharing those same passions of his at “Grammie and Grampa’s House”. There was plenty of work to be had…. like firewood being cut, but the grandchildren also enjoyed sledding parties in the winter, fishing the brook, picking berries, rides on the tractor, “buggy”, four wheeler, snowmobiles and Grammie’s cooking. He enjoyed watching all his grandchildren’s sporting events; be it soccer, basketball, or baseball/softball. He rarely knew the score or who won/lost, but what mattered most to him was watching the joy and fun they had on the field and courts. Tom will be remembered for his strong work ethic, commitment to his local community, fierce love and devotion to his family, his Grandpa silliness, and his ability to fix, renovate, or build anything that his wife, sons or grandchildren asked of him. He could always be counted on to have a tool or random item that you needed in the back of his truck or garage. Tom is survived by his wife of 49 years, Nancy McVetty (Wright) of Dalton, younger sister Terri Parks and her husband Brian Parks of Dalton, sons Christopher (wife Gail) McVetty of Lancaster and Eric (wife Michelle) McVetty of Guildhall, grandchildren; Jack, Emalie, Caroline, Avery, and Easton McVetty. He is survived by sister in-laws Debbie Dubois of Jefferson, Marcia Parkhurst of Columbia, mother in-law Mary Wright of Lancaster, and many nieces and nephews. Tom is predeceased by his parents and his older sister, Becky McVetty, father-in-law, Larry Wright, as well as his brothers-in-law, Jeffrey Wright, Garry Parkhurst and Maurice Dubois. Together Tom and Nancy built a beautiful life together, a life to be proud of. A celebration of life will be held at the Lancaster Fairgrounds Arts & Crafts Building on Saturday, October 7th at 1pm. All are welcome to join. Light refreshments will be served after the service.

Thomas L. McVetty

June 15, 1953 - September 24, 2023