Obituary - John J. Tierney

John J. Tierney, a former superintendent and high school coach, passed away Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at the age of 100. He was born April 11, 1911, to William and Louise Tierney at Thorncreek, near Genesee. He attended Lower Thorncreek Grade School and graduated from Genesee High School in 1929. He later attended the University of Idaho, graduating with an education degree in 1936.

John taught and coached at Cambridge High School during 1936-37. From the fall of 1937 to 1941, he coached and taught at Ferdinand High School. He became head basketball coach and teacher at Grangeville High School in the fall of 1941. Later that fall, he was hired as superintendent and coach at Gifford High School. While at Gifford, he met grade school teacher Sylvia Kirkpatrick of Reubens. They were married Nov. 25, 1942.

Tierney was superintendent and coach at Weippe until 1950. In the spring of 1950, he resigned and moved to Lewiston, where he and Sylvia operated Tierney Grocery on Thain Road in the Orchards for six years. They then operated the Tierney IGA Foodliner for another 18 years before selling the business and retiring in 1973.

John was an avid sports fan. While attending the University of Idaho, he worked at the college sports desk and created a column called "Tierney Tips" - which attempted to predict sporting results.

Tierney loved to bowl. He starting bowling at Orchard Lanes and formed his own league. Later, he became secretary-treasurer of the senior bowling league at the Imperial Bowl. He resigned in 2000 after 21 years of service.

During the 1940s, John and his brother Richard operated a traveling roller skating rink. They set up in the many gyms and dance halls in northern Idaho and eastern Washington, moving to a different location each day.

John is survived by his wife; two sons; one daughter; one brother; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sisters Mary Moehrle, Teresa Kuhn, Mabel Schlueter, Margaret Fleiger, Louise Moehrle and Evelyn Reisenauer; and brothers William and Edward.

Rosary service will be recited at 10 a.m. Tuesday at All Saints Catholic Parish at St. Stanislaus Church. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 followed by burial at Normal Hill Cemetery in Lewiston.

An online guest book is available at www.vassar-rawls.com.

The family requests that any memorial be made to the choice of the donor.

Lewiston Tribune, November 20, 2011, p. 7C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock