Tawny

About the Book

Cleverly written episodes of youthful experiences of a young boy, with much freedom to do his own thing, while showing a love of nature as well as caring for all living things.

About the Author

Thomas Furness (Tawny) was born in Haddonfield, New Jersey, February 18, 1928, and was a graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School. He had a fondness for animals and a restlessness to be on the go and see the country. So on several occasions he hitch-hiked out west to visit his motherÕs brother, Emil Olander, who had a ranch near Miles City, Montana. There with his cousins, Janet and Kathleen, he soon became adept at riding horses, milking cows, and taking part in the many chores. His older brother, kendall, had preceded him two years earlier, as a cowhand on the adjacent ranch of Jack Hume. Thomas joined his brother and the two young men helped maintaining the vast 23 000 acre ranch, with 800 head of cattle. They enjoyed this life together for several years, until KendallÕs tragic fatal accident in 1952 while unloading feed from a truck on a wintry day. Thomas continued employment with Mr. Hume for a couple of years, and later was willed the ranch when Jack Hume, who was single, passed away. ThomasÕ unfortunate riding accident in 1954 resulted in the ranch being leased and later sold, under the supervision of his Uncle Emil Olander in 1976.

Thomas spent the next forty years in and out of various nursing homes, under the care and supervision of his parents. The extent of his injuries prevented him from walking unaided, and able to write legibly. Although all these stories of his experiences were written prior to his accident, he engaged all available nurses aides, etc. to take dictation, almost on a daily basis, when his urge to put thoughts on record. In this regard, his sister Patricia Benjamin and brother Alan assisted as scribes until his death in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1994.

Prepared by Harold Alan Furness Jr., Executor and Guardian