Thomas Andrew Guertin, age 77, passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at his home in Franklin, North Carolina.

Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 16, at Saint Mary, Mother of God, Roman Catholic Church in Sylva, North Carolina . Father Casey Coleman will officiate. Graveside will follow at 3 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery. Military Honors will be conducted by the VFW Post 7339 and the American Legion Post 108.

A Rosary Service will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at Macon Funeral Home. Immediately following the Rosary, the family will receive friends until 8:00 pm.

Tom was born on June 13, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan to Henri Octave Guertin and Marion Lee Bernhard Guertin. Tom's family lived in Detroit, Michigan and White Plains, New York before settling in Tampa, Florida. Tom spent many of his early summers vacationing with his family along Lake Skaneateles in the Fingers Lakes District of New York and attended Camp Kingwood near Warren, New Hampshire. He ran the 40 yard dash for his high school track team at St. John's Prep School in Danvers, Massachusetts. Tom decided to attend college close to his parent's home, and earned his associate's degree from St. Leo's College near Dade City, Florida, where he met his wife, Elizabeth. Tom and Liz married on January 2, 1964 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in St. Joseph, Florida. They lived in Tampa where they were members of Christ the King Catholic Church. They went on to raise six children together, during which time Tom earned his baccalaureate degree in accounting from the University of Tampa and provided for his ever-growing family. As their youngest finished high school, Tom and Liz prepared to move to the mountains of North Carolina, where they had vacationed over the years. A great lover of nature and talented photographer, Tom spent his final decades hiking the surrounding mountains and documenting the region through pictures. Tom designed the house that they built on "their mountain," which backed up against the top of the hill and borders forest service land. A devout lifelong Catholic, Tom's faith carried him through to the end. He was a member of Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Franklin, North Carolina for 14 years and Saint Mary, Mother of God, Roman Catholic Church in Sylva, North Carolina for 4 years. Tom served his parishes in many different ministries in both Florida and North Carolina. He also served his country in the Army Reserves. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and the family of black bears that stop by his mountain every spring and summer.

Tom is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Genevieve Barthle Guertin, their six children, Marie Maderal of (Fort Collins, Colorado), Joseph Guertin (Tampa, Florida), Louis Guertin (Franklin, North Carolina), Brian Guertin (Lakeland, Florida), Sharon Fessler of (Fort Collins, Colorado), Kathryn Guertin-Davis (Portland, Oregon) and his brother, Georges Guertin of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, fifteen grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Henri and Marion Bernhard Guertin, his brother, Robert Guertin, and granddaughter, Kiera Guertin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Saint Mary, Mother of God, Catholic Church, 22 Bartlett Street, Sylva, NC 28779
Saint Joseph Seminary, Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203
Rathbun House, Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC
Care Partners Hospice, Franklin, NC

Online condolences can be made to the family at www.maconfuneralhome.com