Larry Thomas "Tom" Coleman

Larry Thomas “Tom” Coleman, age 67 of Kirtland, passed away January 22, 2022, at University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby. He was born June 8, 1954 in Iaeger, WV. Tom loved working with his hands and carried his affinity for hard work and craftsmanship his entire life. A work ethic and a love of crafts that he attributed to his family coming from West Virginia, a trait of which he was extremely proud. He was a sign painter who worked for Pepsi-Cola in the 1970s then branched out on his own and stayed with the craft the rest of his career. In his home community of Lake County, Ohio, Tom was revered for his ability to hand letter boats, cars, and Harley Davidson motorcycles, some of which he made himself. He also enjoyed working with stained glass, wood, and loved to camp and fish. In recent years Tom started to handcraft knives from antique saw blades, most of which he gave away to anyone that he called a friend. Tom met Sharon, the love of his life, when he was 15. They dated through high school and got permission from Sharon’s mother to marry at a young age. He joined the Marines and served with pride in the United States Marine Corps, 3rd Marine Air Wing Crash Fire Rescue #7051, a unit that extinguished aircraft fires. When Tom and Sharon’s first son, Jason was born, he brought home a pair of toddler’s Levi jeans from the commissary at Camp Pendleton in California that every child in the family, including his second son, John, and all of his grandchildren, nieces and nephews have worn since then. Though Tom sometimes sported a tough exterior, he was compassionate and he cared for animals he found in the neighborhood. He loved to take care of local wildlife and made sure they had food throughout the year. He was extremely proud of his boys, Jason and John, for carrying on as craftsmen and working with their hands to make things that everyday people could love and use—Jason as a signmaker, John as a sheet metal worker. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sharon (Jenkins); son, John (Elara) Coleman; grandchildren, James and Spencer Coleman and Clinton and Uma Coleman; siblings, Zelma (Chuck) Mitchell, Eva Higginbotham, John (Kim) Coleman, and Kim (Bobby) Jeremia; cousin, James (Carol) Bryant and many other loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Jason Coleman; parents, Farley Coleman and Pearl (Mullins) Gardner, and sister, Shirley Wood. A celebration of Larry’s life will be held at the Kirtland Community of Christ Meeting Hall, 9017 Chillicothe Rd., Kirtland, Oh 44094 on Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friends and Family are welcome. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lake Humane Society, 7564 Tyler Blvd # E, Mentor, OH 44060; or online at https://www.lakehumane.org/ Arrangements entrusted to the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Mentor, OH. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Larry Thomas "Tom" Coleman

June 8, 1954 - January 22, 2022