Thomas Jefferson Dr. Mearns

Thomas “Tom” Jefferson Mearns, MD, 76 of Beckley, WV passed away Sunday May 29, 2016 at CAMC
in Charleston, WV.

Born August 20, 1939 in Summersville, WV he was the son of the late Ernest Carson Mearns and Iva Thomas Mearns. Tom attended Nicholas County High School where he was voted an outstanding student by his peers in being first in Best Personality, Most Popular, Most Handsome, Most Thoughtful, and Best All Around Typical Senior. He attended West Virginia University where he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He graduated from the WVU School of Medicine in 1965 and completed his residency at Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, WV. Tom served as Captain with the U.S. Army Armed Forces Examining Station from 1966 to July 1968. During this time he also worked as an emergency room physician with Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, WV. In 1968 he moved his family to Claremont, NC and worked in general practice while also establishing his organic garden and peach/apple orchard. He later joined Frye Regional Medical Center located in nearby Hickory, NC as an emergency room physician where he continued to practice medicine until moving to Wilmington, NC in 1992. There he practiced medicine for several years and spent many days saltwater fishing, gardening, and working in his workshop. After the death of his loving wife, Alana, of forty eight years he moved back to Beckley, WV in November, 2011 to live out his remaining days. There he reunited with his high school sweetheart, Jean Ann Standifur, and they married in 2012. He enjoyed spending time with his family, hobbies, and other various activities such as volunteering at Carpenter’s Corner, a local kitchen ministry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Iva Mearns of Summersville, WV; wife, Alana Floyd Mearns; and son, Thomas Jefferson Mearns, Jr., of Wilmington, NC.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Ann; his brother Bill Mearns and wife, Micki, of Charleston, WV and their children, Karen M. Banks of Chevy Chase, MD and Patrick Mearns of Atlanta, GA; his aunt, Evelyn Ferguson of Buena Vista, VA; his children; Susan M. Pott and husband, Richard, and grandchildren, Benjamin and Savannah of Earlysville, VA; Becky M. Day and husband, David, and grandchildren, Emily, Lauren, and Jessica of Niceville, FL; Andy Mearns and wife, Malia, and grandchildren, Carson and Addison of Southport, NC; John Mearns and wife, Erica, and grandchildren, Alexis and Claire of Wilmington, NC; his step-children, Trish Standifur of Lexington, KY and Laura and husband, Bobby Zutaut, and step-grandchildren Megan and husband, L.G. Shea, step-great grandchild, Grayson, and Michael Zutaut of Beckley, WV.

Tom enjoyed his medical career in caring for others and was highly respected and loved both as a physician and as a person. He had a gentle spirit and a big heart. He loved working long hours in his workshop making beautiful things to share with others. He also enjoyed tending to his garden and sharing the bountiful harvest with family and friends. Tom was truly a kind hearted and generous man and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 18 with a 1:00 pm visitation and a 2:00 pm service at Calfee Funeral Home located at 800 S. Oakwood Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801. The service will be conducted by Reverends Trish Standifur and Don Snyder. A reception will follow the service at the First Christian Church located on the Courthouse Square at the corner of North Fayette (119) and Prince Streets. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society at 325 Grey Flats Rd., Beckley, WV 25801 or to First Christian Church, where he attended, at PO Box 5556, Beckley, WV 25801.